Patents Examined by K. Richard Lee
  • Patent number: 7332684
    Abstract: A turn signal switch for a vehicle includes: a resiliently urging means provided between a switch operating element and a switch case so as to urge the switch operating element toward a neutral position and a returned position. The resiliently urging means includes: a return plate having a guide recess which is provided at one end and against which abuts a first pin provided on the switch operating element, the return plate being slidably supported on the switch case; a pair of return springs exhibiting spring forces for urging the return plate in a direction to bring the pin into abutment against the guide recess. The guide recess is curved into a substantially triangular shape, and includes a valley and return cam faces on opposite sides of the valley. The return springs are provided on opposite sides of the valley and between the return plate and the switch case. Thus, it is possible to reduce the length of the turn signal switch in the direction of push-in/return of the switch operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tozuka, Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7330099
    Abstract: A chip resistor includes a resistive element (1), an insulation layer (4) formed in a back surface of the flat surface, and two electrodes (3) spaced from each other via the insulation layer. Each electrode (3) makes contact with the insulation layer (4). Each electrode (3) has a lower surface formed with a solder layer (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Torayuki Tsukada
  • Patent number: 7323647
    Abstract: A modular device for a telephone network interface apparatus having separate connection and plug-actuated testing compartments. The compartment for connection having at least one pair of contact wires for connection to a subscriber premises line and at least one pair of contact wires for connection to an incoming telephone company line, and an arm member mounted for insertion in the connecting compartment and into engagement with the subscriber and telephone company contact wires effecting the connection between the pair of subscriber contact wires and the pair of telephone company contact wires and for being withdrawn from the connecting compartment causing the subscriber contact wires to be disconnected from the telephone company contact wires to provide a point for demarcation therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: TII Network Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Smith, Peter A. Arcati
  • Patent number: 7323649
    Abstract: A jerking-initiated switch includes two first shank members and two second shank members secured to first and second lateral sides of a base wall of an insulating frame to define a rolling path for rolling of an electrically conductive ball therealong. Two limb members are respectively and integrally formed with, and extend from, the second shank members to form a guideway along the rolling path such that the ball can slidably contact the limb members, and extend towards the first shank members to terminate at threshold regions that are spaced apart from the first shank members. The limb members have idle regions on the rolling path. Once the ball is jerked to displace from one of the idle and threshold regions to the other, the switch is placed in one of the first and second switching states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 7321102
    Abstract: A float switch system for limiting to desirable levels current and energy entering a tank of combustible liquid comprises: a float switch disposed within the tank; an interface circuit external to the tank and coupled through wiring to the float switch; a passive transient suppression circuit coupled to the wiring external and in proximity to the tank, and operative to limit current and energy entering the tank over the wiring to the desirable levels; and a control circuit coupled to the float switch through the transient suppression circuit and to the interface circuit, the control circuit operative to monitor the status of the float switch with current within the desirable current level and to energize the interface circuit based on the switch status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Fox, William Jon Darling, Rollin Winter Brown, Lawrence Carl Maier
  • Patent number: 7321107
    Abstract: A heat transfer material comprised of a polymeric material and a nitride or oxide is provided and is thermally conductive, but electrically non-conductive. The polymeric material may be silicone rubber, and the nitride or oxide may be aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide or beryllium oxide. The material is made flexible by adding plasticizer and remains flexible after an extended period of use. A dielectric jacket for an electrical heating cable is thermally conductive and remains flexible so that it can be reused. The heat transfer material can be used on heating devices such as steam tubes and panels, where the heat transfer material does not bond to or adhere to the heated surface, which allows the heating device to be reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Thermon Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Chandrakant M. Yagnik, Roy E. Barth, R. Knox Pitzer
  • Patent number: 7321287
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the gas sensor includes a porous plate-like sintered body comprising trisilicon tetranitride needle crystals; two first catalyst metal thin films and one second catalyst metal thin film, formed on one surface of the plate-like sintered body in a non-contacted state with each other; oxygen ion-conductive solid electrolyte thin films formed on the respective surface; a surface layer thin film formed on the respective surfaces, so that a first measurement part, a second measurement part and a third measurement part are constituted; and a glass sealing layer comprising silicon oxide, formed on other surface of the porous plate-like sintered body, a surface other than the surface of the porous plate-like sintered body having the first catalyst metal thin film and the second catalyst metal thin film formed thereon, and a side of the first measurement part and the second measurement part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Ota, Jin-Joo Park
  • Patent number: 7319201
    Abstract: A simple, inexpensive waterproof/dustproof structure for a movable mechanism such as a machine tool apparatus or the like, providing a liquid reservoir formed between the inner wall of a stationary member and the outer wall of a movable member at a portion equivalent to the entrance of a gap between the stationary member and the movable member. The leading edge of the movable member moves through a liquid LQ that fills the liquid reservoir. The liquid LQ seals off the interior of the apparatus from the exterior to prevent the entry of mist, dust and other foreign matter. The gap may be made comparatively broad without affecting the ability to prevent the entry of foreign matter. The direction of movement of the movable member may be longitudinal, lateral, reciprocal, rotary, or a combination thereof, depending on the type of movable mechanism to which the waterproof/dustproof structure is applied. The liquid LQ may be a working fluid used by a hydraulic bearing or a machining fluid used by a machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Tomohiko Kawai, Kenzo Ebihara, Hiroshi Minami
  • Patent number: 7317175
    Abstract: An oven control system and user interface are provided for setting a target temperature for different zones within an oven. A thermocouple is provided in each zone within the oven to monitor the realized temperature within the specific zone of the oven. A plurality of different heater elements are also provided within each zone of the oven. The control system enables a user to easily and efficiently select a target setpoint temperature for each zone within the oven, or for the chair rail, or the sag rails. For the case of the oven, the setpoint provides a virtual heat setpoint for the complete oven section which is then realized by controllably regulating operation of the various unique heating elements within that zone of the oven to realize the desired setpoint temperature within that specific zone of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventors: Jere F. Irwin, Marian J. Fisk
  • Patent number: 7312690
    Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a probe section for insertion into a hot zone. The probe section includes a thermistor, a first lengthy pin terminating at the thermistor, and a second lengthy pin also terminating at the thermistor. A housing section is on one end of the probe section and outside of the hot zone. The housing section includes a first spring which biases the first pin into contact with the thermistor, a second spring which biases the second pin into contact with the thermistor, a first electrical contact engaged with the first spring, and a second electrical contact engaged with the second spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David Geer
  • Patent number: 7309840
    Abstract: An emergency stopping safety device includes an emergency switch and an emergency light. When children accidentally put their fingers into a paper feeder of a paper shredder, the paper shredder can be temporarily disabled by pressing a button of the emergency switch immediately, and the emergency light blinks as warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Inventor: Emily Lo
  • Patent number: 7304255
    Abstract: The present invention includes an electrical adapter switch assembly for bypassing the door light circuit on a Jeep TJ® when the driver and/or passenger door is removed. The defeat switch is a plug in electrical adapter designed to bypass the door light circuit on a Jeep TJ® when either or both front vehicle doors are removed. In use, the adapter is inserted in place of the existing door fuse. A slider switch mounted on the cover of the adapter is placed in an On/Normal position where the door light circuits function in the normal manner. Conversely, when placed in an Off/Remote position, the fuse is effectively removed from the circuit and the door lights will not operate even if the vehicle doors are removed. A remote plug allows for a remote mounted switch, perhaps located on the dashboard to be wired in to control the door light circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Philip G. Pratt
  • Patent number: 7301111
    Abstract: A slide switch includes an operational member slidable in a direction along a virtual plane, a plurality of movable contacts arranged surrounding the operational member, a plurality of fixed contacts provided in correspondence with the movable contacts to render at least one of the movable contacts into a conductive state when the operational member is operated, a support member for slidably supporting the operational member via a sliding face provided on the back face of the operational member, a guide mechanism which allows integral displacement of the operational member and the support member in response to a depressing operation of the operational member in a normal direction and an urging mechanism operable to return the support member in the absence of the depressing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Kondo, Takayuki Nagata, Akihito Shichida, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7301436
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for using anti-fuse bond pads used to provide trimmed resistor values to the input terminals of circuits on an integrated circuit die. The apparatus and method comprises fabricating on a semiconductor integrated circuit a resistive network. The resistive network includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a resistor coupled between the two terminals. An anti-fuse bond pad and a trimming resistor are coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The trimming resistor is configured to be electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal when a ball bond is formed on the anti-fuse bond pad. In various embodiments, a plurality of the anti-fuse bond pads and trimming resistors may be coupled between the two terminals. By selectively forming ball bonds on the plurality of anti-fuse bond pads, the resistance of the network can be selectively trimmed as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Peter J. Hopper, Peter Johnson, Philipp Lindorfer
  • Patent number: 7301435
    Abstract: An electronic resistor user interface comprises flexible conductive materials and a flexible variably resistive element capable of exhibiting a change in electrical resistance on mechanical deformation and is characterised by textile-form electrodes (10,12), a textile form variably resistive element (14) and textile-form members (16) connective to external circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Peratech Limited
    Inventors: David Lussey, Dianne Jones, Steven Leftly
  • Patent number: 7297892
    Abstract: A controllable heat source, such as a laser or flame torch, can be used to pre-heat a portion of the surface of a workpiece, such as a glass optic or semiconductor wafer. Reactive atom plasma (RAP) processing can be used to modify the pre-heated surface portion, as the pre-heated material will more readily chemically combine with the atomic radicals of the precursor in the plasma. A RAP torch, such as an ICP plasma torch, MIP plasma torch, or flame torch, can be used to shape, polish, etch, planarize, deposit, chemically modify and/or redistribute material on the surface of the workpiece. The material modified by the torch can substantially correspond to the pattern or portion of the surface that was pre-heated by the heat source. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: RAPT Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jude Kelley, Jeffrey W. Carr, Peter S. Fiske
  • Patent number: 7297886
    Abstract: A dustproof structure for an electronic equipment includes internal switches disposed in a housing forming an external frame of the electronic equipment and an opening for use in operating the internal switches. The dustproof structure further includes a shutter plate for opening or closing the opening; and a cover plate for supporting the shutter plate, the shutter plate being freely slidable between the cover plate and the housing. A slide recess serving as a sliding area of the shutter plate is formed in the housing or the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Noguchi, Masahiro Arai
  • Patent number: 7291793
    Abstract: A multifunction key assembly for inputting data to an electronic device. The multifunction key assembly has two switches operated by a single key cap. The key cap can be displaced vertically into three active positions and horizontally into four contact positions, giving rise to twelve distinct output data signals for inputting to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignees: Iscar Ltd.
    Inventor: Gil Hecht
  • Patent number: 7292133
    Abstract: A resistance circuit included in a semiconductor apparatus, which is formed of a plurality of thin film metal resistors connected in series, capable of achieving a precise resistance adjustment over a wide range by disconnecting or changing the resistors by laser beam irradiation. With three thin film metal resistors R1, R2, and R3 connected in series, for example, each having resistance adjustable ranges ?R1, ?R2, and ?R3, resistance adjustment accuracies R1_step, R2_step, and R3_step, and the total resistance adjustable range ?R0 specified by the relation ?R0=?R1+?R2+?R3, the resistance circuit is formed to satisfy relational expressions, R1_step??R2, R2_step??R3, and R3_step?0.001×?R0<R2_step?0.01×?R0<R1_step?0.1×?R0. This resistance circuit is suitably incorporated into high precision constant voltage generating, and voltage detecting circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidenori Kato
  • Patent number: 7291797
    Abstract: A tuning structure of a sound mixer is disclosed to include a switch set, formed of sliding switches with a respective switching lever, a face panel, which has sliding slots arranged in parallel for the passing of the switching levers of the switch set, a track set, which is mounted in between the switch set and the face panel and has pairs of ribs for guiding movement of the switching levers of the sliding switches stably along the sliding slots of the face panel, and tuning keys respectively fastened to the switching levers of the switch set and suspending above the face panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Seikaku Technical Group Limited
    Inventor: Ming-Lung Yang