Patents Examined by Lheiren Mae A Caroc
  • Patent number: 11608920
    Abstract: A connection verifier, including a collar, a circuit board non-rotatably connected to the collar, the circuit board including at least one terminal, a switch rotatably connected to the collar and arranged to contact the at least one terminal, the switch including at least one finger extending in a first axial direction, and an indication device arranged to activate when the switch contacts the at least one terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Oetiker NY, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edwin Hall, II, Lawrence Butts
  • Patent number: 11610745
    Abstract: A key structure includes a base plate, a switch element, a key pedestal and a keycap. The key pedestal includes an opening, a first hooking structure and a second hooking structure. The keycap includes an edge part, a triggering post, a third hooking structure and a fourth hooking structure. The third hooking structure and the fourth hooking structure are installed on the edge part. The switch element is installed on the base plate. The key pedestal is installed on the base plate. The triggering post is inserted into the opening to trigger the switch element. The third hooking structure of the keycap is movably connected with the first hooking structure of the key pedestal. The fourth hooking structure of the keycap is movably connected with the second hooking structure of the key pedestal. Consequently, the keycap is maintained in a horizontal state and not tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Fan Chang, Lei-Lung Tsai, Chin-Sung Pan
  • Patent number: 11587746
    Abstract: A keyboard including a substrate and a key structure is provided. The key structure is disposed on the substrate and includes a keycap, an antenna, and a sensor. The keycap is disposed on the substrate, and a length of the keycap is greater than a width of the keycap. The antenna is disposed on a back surface of the keycap facing toward the substrate. The sensor is disposed below the keycap and is electrically connected with the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Ching Lu, Wu-Jeng Li, Chin-Ping Chan, Chih-Jen Kuo
  • Patent number: 11581154
    Abstract: A power tool includes an electric motor, an output member selectively driven by the electric motor and a battery receptacle configured to receive a battery. The power tool also includes a switch trigger moveable between a first position and a second position. The switch trigger inhibits electrical communication between the battery and the electric motor while the switch trigger is in the first position. The switch trigger operates a switch to provide electrical communication between the electric motor and the battery while the switch trigger is in the second position. A lock actuator prevents movement of the switch trigger to the second position while the lock actuator is in a locked position, and the lock actuator permits movement of the switch trigger to the second position while in an unlocked position. The lock actuator is biased into the unlocked position while the battery is positioned in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP
    Inventors: Brandon Causey, Isiah D. Smith
  • Patent number: 11574778
    Abstract: An illuminated keyswitch structure with an illuminating module includes a base plate, a drive circuit board under the base plate, a spacer between the drive circuit board and the base plate, and a light-emitting part on the circuit board. The spacer has a through hole communicating with an opening of the base plate in a vertical direction. The light-emitting part is located in the through hole, and falls within a projection of the opening in the vertical direction. The light-emitting part has a top surface that is lower than or equal to a bottom surface of the base plate in the vertical direction. The structure of the illuminated keyswitch structure around the light-emitting part can keep flat by the spacer. The spacer can prevent the light-emitting part from structurally entering the opening, avoiding structural interference between the light-emitting part and other components above the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Heng-Yi Huang, Hsin-Cheng Ho, Yuan-Bao Chen
  • Patent number: 11569046
    Abstract: A keyswitch includes a board, a cap opposite to the board, a first support device, a second support device, and a first link member. The first support device is disposed between the cap and the board. An end of the first support device is connected to the board. Another end of the first support device is connected to the cap. The second support device is disposed between the cap and the board and is separate from the first support device at a specific distance. An end of the second support device is connected to the board. Another end of the second support device is connected to the cap. The first link member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is movably connected to the first support device. The second end portion is connected to the second support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chin-Lung Chan, Cheng-Min Su, Hung-Chieh Lo
  • Patent number: 11551887
    Abstract: A key structure including a base, a light sensing module, a carrier, a magnetic member, a cap, and a scissor structure are provided. The light sensing module is disposed at the base. The carrier is located above the base. The magnetic member is disposed on the carrier. The cap is adapted to be assembled to the carrier via a magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member or adapted to be detached from the carrier via overcoming the magnetic attracting force of the magnetic member. The scissor structure is connected between the base and the carrier. The carrier and the cap disposed thereon move up and down relative to the base via the scissor structure. An orthogonal projection of the magnetic member on the base is not overlapped with an orthogonal projection of the light sensing module on the base. A keyboard is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Hung-Chi Chen, Shun-Bin Chen, Huei-Ting Chuang, Wen-Chieh Tai, Yi-Hsin Pan
  • Patent number: 11551890
    Abstract: A keyswitch includes a cap, first and second support members slidably connected to the cap and opposite to each other, and first and second blocks formed on the cap. The cap is movable between a non-pressed position and a pressed position. The first support member abuts against the first block when the cap is located at the non-pressed position. The first block moves away from the first support member at a first gap when the cap moves downward from the non-pressed position. The first support member abuts against the cap when the cap is located at the non-pressed position, and abuts against the second block when the cap continues moving downward to the pressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Jin-Long Chan, Yu-Chih Chang, Cheng-Min Su
  • Patent number: 11551889
    Abstract: A key switch is provided, which includes a base, a cap, a first linkage rod, a second linkage rod, an elastic contraction element, at least one activate member and a thin film circuit unit. The base includes a plurality of first connection portions and a plurality of second connection portions. The first linkage rod is movably connected to the first connection portions and the cap. The second linkage rod is movably connected to the second connection portions and the cap. One end of the elastic contraction element is connected to the first linkage rod, and the other end thereof is connected to the second linkage rod. The activate member is disposed on one of the first linkage rod, the second linkage rod and the cap. The thin film circuit unit includes an activate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yu-Chih Chang, Chin-Lung Chan, Cheng-Min Su
  • Patent number: 11545316
    Abstract: An input device including an operation key arranged in an opening of a panel is provided. The input device also includes a light source and a push button switch each being arranged in a position opposite an opening on a board. The operation key includes: a key top having a pressing part extending toward the push button switch. The pressing part is arranged in a position separated from a center position in planar view of the key top on a line that is parallel to a line connecting connection parts of the key top, which are connected with one pair out of one or more pairs of arms, and passes through the center position. The push button switch is arranged in a position on the board opposite an arrangement position of the pressing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11541901
    Abstract: An opening switch for a vehicle having a decorative cover assembly, a sensor housing region, and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor mounted in the sensor housing region. The decorative cover assembly has an inner surface, an outer surface, an anchor portion, and a deflection portion. When contact from a vehicle user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly, a microdeflection occurs. The microdeflection has a microdeflection apex, and the microdeflection apex is spaced from other surfaces in the sensor housing region when the contact from the user occurs at the deflection portion in the decorative cover assembly. The MEMS sensor is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of a force of the contact from the user. The force integrated switch can include haptic feedback and/or backlighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Rea, John Marsh, Gaurav Agarwal, Cedric Ketels, Michael Twork, Christophe Brunard
  • Patent number: 11538644
    Abstract: A keyswitch structure includes a keycap, a base, and two supports that are pivotally connected to each other and connected to and between the keycap and the base. The keycap can move up and down relative to the base through the two supports. In an embodiment, the two supports are pivotally connected through an engagement of a shaft with a C-shaped shaft hole. In another embodiment, each support is provided in a form of an n-shaped structure and includes a semi-shaft hole and a shaft portion at two ends of the n-shaped structure respectively. The two supports are pivotally connected by the shaft portions rotatably abutting the corresponding semi-shaft holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Ling-Hsi Chao
  • Patent number: 11532445
    Abstract: A key structure includes a keycap, a base plate and a supporting element. The supporting element includes a first frame and a second frame. The supporting element is connected with the keycap and the base plate. Consequently, the keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate. When the first frame and a second frame are combined together, a first span and a second span are formed sequentially. The second span is smaller than the first frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: De-Guang Zhu, Rong-Biao Xu
  • Patent number: 11527371
    Abstract: A switch includes: a housing having a box shape; a plunger movable in a first direction intersecting an opening surface; and a movable piece arranged inside the housing and is elastically deformable in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The plunger has a touching portion which is arranged so as to face the movable piece in the second direction inside the housing and to be able to elastically deform the movable piece in the second direction by touching the movable piece, and further, a lubricant retaining portion that can retain a lubricant is provided in at least one of the touching portion of the plunger and a touched portion of the movable piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Junichi Seto, Mamiko Naka
  • Patent number: 11521811
    Abstract: A key device for a keyboard includes a circuit board, a keycap located over the circuit board, a supporting plate disposed under the circuit board, a first stabilizing member, a second stabilizing member and two supporting members. The supporting plate includes two first mounting seats cooperatively defining a rotating axis extending in a first direction. Each of the first stabilizing member and the second stabilizing member is made of a plastic material, slidably engages the keycap, and is rotatably mounted to the first mounting seats. When the keycap is pressed toward the supporting plate, the first stabilizing member and the second stabilizing member rotate relative to the supporting plate about the rotating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SUNREX TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Chia-Hung Tsai, Shih-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 11515104
    Abstract: A microswitch includes a contact chamber that accommodates a contact mechanism that opens and closes an electrical circuit; an enclosure that accommodates the contact chamber; and a pressing component that accepts a pressure external to the enclosure. The pressing component may include an insertion part that is inserted into an insertion hole in the contact chamber and acts on the contact mechanism, the insertion part receiving a pressure external thereto and moving from a first side that is outward of the enclosure to a second side that is inward of the enclosure. The pressing component may include a shielding part that shields the insertion hole from the contact chamber side, the shielding part being larger than the insertion hole in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction to block the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichiro Kobuchi, Yoshinori Ijiri
  • Patent number: 11495423
    Abstract: The resin molded article is molded by using an electrode sheet as an insert in a state where one surface of the electrode sheet is closely attached to an inner surface which serves as the inner side of the operation surface. The electrode sheet is formed by using, as a base material, a thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet which outputs an electrical signal according to the amount of change of electrostatic capacitance generated by a contact operation with respect to the operation surface. At least a whole or a part of the inner surface is formed in a three-dimensionally curved surface, and a passage is formed in the electrode sheet so as to allow a molten resin following in through a gate formed in a die which comes into contact with the other surface of the electrode sheet during molding to pass toward one surface side of the electrode sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Doi
  • Patent number: 11495419
    Abstract: A switch device includes two fixed contacts and a movable contact of which position is changed when an operation unit is operated to selectively contact the fixed contacts. The switch device also includes a snap action mechanism that switches a contact state of the movable contact with the fixed contacts by deforming a spring portion in accordance with an operation amount of the operation unit. The switch device also includes a control unit that determines an operation state of the operation unit based on a detection signal received from the fixed contacts and the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujimoto, Masaya Murota, Takaho Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11495421
    Abstract: A keyswitch includes a bottom board, a cap structure, a lifting mechanism, and an elastic member. The lifting mechanism is detachably connected to the cap structure and the bottom board to make the cap structure movable upward and downward relative to the bottom board. The elastic member is connected to the cap structure so as to be detached from the lifting mechanism together with the cap structure when the cap structure is separate from the lifting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Jui-Yi Huang, Sheng-Yun Yang, Chin-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 11495418
    Abstract: A multipolar switch includes a first electrical contact zone connected to a first electrical circuit, and a second electrical contact zone connected to a second electrical circuit. In addition, a first part made from an electrically conducting material is arranged on and at a distance from the first electrical contact zone, and a second part made from an electrically conducting material is arranged on the first part. An electrically insulating layer is arranged between the first part and the second part so as to electrically insulate them from one another. So configured, the first part is configured to be elastically deformed when being mechanically solicited in an actuating direction of the multipolar switch, and the second part is configured to be elastically deformed or be displaced in the actuating direction of the multipolar switch, between a rest configuration and an activated configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: APEM
    Inventor: Cédric Mora