Patents Examined by T C Patel
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7708588
    Abstract: An electrical connector capable of being connected with a FPCB and a PCB stably, includes an insulating housing defining a receiving space at a top portion thereof. A plurality of terminals is received in the insulating housing and each terminal has a contacting portion projecting into the receiving space for being connected with the FPCB. A reinforcement board is received in the receiving space for being fastened together with the FPCB. A slide cover slidably covers on the insulating housing and presses against the reinforcement board. When the electrical connector is soldered to the PCB, the FPCB is electrically connected with the PCB stably for the slider cover pressing against the reinforcement board to make the FPCB connected with the terminals steadily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Ta Chen
  • Electromechanical energy conversion systems
    Patent number: 7710081
    Abstract: An exemplary power system may include an electric machine with multiple sets of stator windings, each set of windings being coupled through a separate switch matrix to a common voltage bus, and each of which may be spatially arranged in full pitch around the stator such that stator flux harmonics are substantially reduced. The reduced stator flux harmonics may be associated with phase current harmonic content. In an example application, such power systems may operate in a generating mode to transfer mechanical energy to electrical energy on a DC voltage bus. In some illustrative embodiments, the power system may provide both high-power and high-speed (e.g., 1 MW at 8000 rpm or above) motoring and/or generating capability suitable, for example, for on-board (e.g., marine, aviation, traction) power systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Direct Drive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Saban, Raed H. Ahmad, Zhiguo Pan
  • Linear wind-powered electric generator
    Patent number: 7709971
    Abstract: A linear wind powered electric generator (LWPEG), which is particularly adapted for installation at geographical sites subject to lower wind intensities. More specifically, there are provided design concepts for an LWPEG, possessing reasonable economic parameters for utilization at the lower-intensity wind sites. Moreover, the linear wind powered electric generator is based on a track based wind power generator, incorporating aerodynamic designs, which are adapted to reduce mechanical complexities presently encountered in this technology, while being cost-effective both in construction and in connection with the operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventors: Shrikrishna Sane, Nirmal Muyle, Vijay Shukla, Osanan L. Barros Neto
  • Socket assembly with pick up cap
    Patent number: 7708571
    Abstract: A socket assembly (1) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a socket body (20) holding a plurality of contacts therein, a pick up cap (22) fixed onto the socket body, and a loading plate (3) capable of moving between a closed position and a open position with regard to the socket body (20). A locking device (5) is proved to lock the loading plate (3) to a closed position. The pick up cap (22) comprises a flat suction surface (220) and at least one latch (222) for latching the loading plate (3) so that the pick up cap (22) can be attached to the loading plate (3) when the loading plate (3) is in a closed position, and detached from the socket body (20) when the loading plate (3) moves away from the socket body to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert Terhune, Chia-Wei Fan, Nan-Hung Lin, Hao-Yun Ma
  • Replacement clip and method for repairing a modular cable connector having a broken locking clip
    Patent number: 7708581
    Abstract: A replacement clip and method for repairing a modular cable connector having a broken locking clip. The replacement clip comprises a substantially u-shaped housing being configured to mount onto a modular connector having a broken clip, the housing having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite from the top surface, the top surface having an arm extension ending in a locking tab, the locking tab being spaced by the arm extension and located at an end opposite from the cable that the connector is connected to, the bottom surface having a slit therein running parallel to the cable, the slit being configured to mount the replacement clip onto the connector, such that, the locking tab securely holds the connector within a socket and such that mechanical and electrical connections between the connector and the socket are maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel B. Weiss
  • USB connector extension/retraction device for USB flash drive
    Patent number: 7704084
    Abstract: An improved USB connector extension/retraction device for a USB flash drive includes a moving cover for coupling with a flash memory unit (which has a USB connector), a resilient bar element, and two springs. The moving cover is assembled with a railed housing to form the USB connector extension/retraction device. The moving cover can be pushed forward and secured in position so that the USB connector of the flash memory unit is extended out for use. When not in use, the USB connector is retracted automatically so as to be hidden for protection. In addition, the USB connector extension/retraction device allows the USB flash drive to have a reduced volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Chieh-Yu Cheng
  • Power-generator control apparatus for addressing occurrence of voltage transient
    Patent number: 7705568
    Abstract: In a power-generator control apparatus, a control circuit intermittently controls the supply of a field current from a battery to a field winding of a power generator in normal mode so as to adjust power induced in an output winding of the power generator. The control circuit interrupts the supply of the field current from the battery to the field winding in transient mode when a transient voltage occurs. An energy absorbing circuit absorbs magnetic energy stored in the field winding independently of magnetic-energy consumption by a resistance of the field winding itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Taniguchi
  • Fluid power generator
    Patent number: 7705480
    Abstract: The fluid power generator is provided. The fluid power generator includes: a first member that has multiple coils; a second member that is rotatable relative to the first member and that has multiple permanent magnets; a rotating member that is mechanically linked with either one of the first member and the second member to rotate by fluid force; and a clearance controller that moves at least one of the first member and the second member to thereby change a clearance between the first member and the second member, wherein the clearance controller changes the clearance in such a manner as to make the clearance smaller after a start of rotation of the rotating member than before the start of rotation of the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Nakamura, Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Plug-in module
    Patent number: 7699668
    Abstract: A plug-in module for mounting on a mounting device is provided, the plug-in module including a housing with a rear mounting face and plug regions on the front face. At least one additional plug region is formed between the front face and the rear mounting face on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Cedes Safety & Automation AG
    Inventor: Michael Lendi
  • Electrical connector with protective member
    Patent number: 7699644
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a card edge module to a circuit board includes a housing that extends along a longitudinal axis between opposite first and second end portions. The housing including a card slot configured to receive a mating edge of the card edge module and a channel proximate one of the first and second end portions. A protective member is received in the channel and positioned to inhibit contact between a side edge of the card edge module and the one of the first and second end portions of the housing when the card edge module is loaded into the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Stanley Szczesny, Edmund Luther Jacobs, David Keay Fowler, Edward Eugene Knisely, Jr.
  • Hybrid electrical power source combining stirling engine driven alternator with supplementing electrical energy storage
    Patent number: 7701075
    Abstract: An electrical power source including a free-piston Stirling engine driving an alternator to supply power through a bus to a user load and controlled by an engine/alternator controller. A bidirectional DC/DC converter is connected between a battery and the bus. The stroke of the engine piston is modulated between a maximum and a minimum stroke to maintain the bus voltage at a design nominal bus voltage (V1), and charge the battery if it is not charged, when and so long as the bus voltage does not fall below a design nominal bus voltage (V1). The Stirling engine is operated at its maximum piston stroke, and the battery is charged if it is not charged, when the bus voltage is in the range between the design nominal bus voltage (V1) and a design minimum battery charging bus voltage (V2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sunpower, Inc.
    Inventor: Ezekiel S. Holliday
  • Electrical connector with improved grounding contact
    Patent number: 7699663
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing member and a number of contacts attached to the housing member. The contacts include a number of first contacts and second contacts arranged side by side along a transverse direction, respectively. The second contacts include a first pair of differential contacts, a second pair of differential contacts and a grounding contact disposed therebetween, the first contacts and the first and the second pairs of differential contacts are used for being soldered to the PCB while the grounding contact needn't be soldered to the PCB. The grounding contact includes a grounding tab to attach to the metal shell for grounding purpose. As a result, a much integral space between the first and the second contacts can be provided for receiving a fiber optical lens module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Kuan-Yu Chen, Stephen Sedlo
  • Dial module and process for manufacturing the same, LED display element, display module, movement module, connector module and meter employing the same
    Patent number: 7699624
    Abstract: The dial module includes: a sheet-shaped dial having a design part on a surface of the dial; a sheet-shaped light source fixed to a back surface of the dial for illuminating the design part; and a flexible printed circuit fixed to a back surface of the light source. The dial module thus constructed enables to reduce the number of components, to facilitate assembly of a meter which employs the dial module therein, to improve the productivity, and to reduce the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Muramatsu
  • Electrical card connector having metallic hinge for reliably supporting a pivotally mounted cover thereon
    Patent number: 7699661
    Abstract: An electrical card connector for receiving a card comprises an insulating housing with a plurality of contacts, a cover, and a pivoting mechanism moveably connecting the cover and the housing. A pair pivoting portions is disposed on the opposite sides of a rear end of the cover, and a pair of mounting portions is disposed on an end of the housing corresponding to the pivoting portions. The connector further comprises an enforcing member having a pair of pivoting wings mounted to the mounting portions of the housing, and each pivoting wing has a pivoting hole for moveably connecting the pivoting portion of the cover. The pivoting wing of the enforcing member and the pivoting portion of the cover together form the pivoting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Kung Wu
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7699636
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) comprises an insulative housing (2), a plurality terminals received in the housing (2), a stiffener (3) engaged with the housing (2), a clip (5) and a lever (4) pivotably mounted on two opposite sides of the stiffener (3). The lever (4) comprises a pair of locating portions (424) pivotably received in the stiffener (3), an offset actuating portion (422) between the locating portions (424), and an operating portion (43) extending upward and frontward from an end of the locating portions (424) and bent far away from the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hao-Yun Ma, Darrell Wertz
  • Modular interconnect apparatus
    Patent number: 7699617
    Abstract: The present application provides a modular interconnect apparatus. In one embodiment, the interconnect apparatus includes a frame; and a plurality of coaxial modules connected to the frame, wherein each of the plurality of coaxial modules comprises: a signal contact having a middle portion, a first end and a second end; a first ring shaped ground contact surrounding the first end of the signal contact, wherein the first end of the signal contact is coaxial with the first ring shaped ground contact; a second ring shaped ground contact surrounding the second end of the signal contact, wherein the second end of the signal contact is coaxial with the second ring shaped ground contact; and a housing that houses at least a portion of signal contact and ground contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Winchester Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Benham, David J. Camelio
  • Land grid array (LGA) socket with cells and method of fabrication and assembly
    Patent number: 7695288
    Abstract: An LGA socket assembly comprising individual sockets cells, the methods of fabricating and assembling the socket cells into a socket assembly. In an embodiment of the invention, each socket cell comprises an insulative body and a wire. The insulative body is formed around the wire. A first portion of the wire extends from the top surface of the insulative body to form contact tip. A second portion of the wire extends from the bottom surface of the insulative body to form contact paddle. Socket cells are aligned to form a socket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Ma, Tieyu Zheng
  • Childproof electrical outlet covering system
    Patent number: 7695293
    Abstract: A childproof electrical outlet covering system includes a panel has a first side and a second side, the panel has two receiving openings therein extending into the second side and outwardly of the first side. Each of the receiving openings corresponds with one of two female apertures in a female outlet when the first side is facing and positioned over the outlet to allow the male prongs to extend through panel and into the female apertures. A mounting assembly is mounted on the panel. The panel is releasably securable to the housing with the mounting assembly. A covering is rotationally coupled to the first side. The covering has a pair of receiving holes extending therethrough that are simultaneously alignable with one of the receiving openings to allow male prongs to be extended through the receiving openings and the receiving holes and into the female apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: Dwight D. Sikes
  • Gravity-flap, savonius-type wind turbine device
    Patent number: 7696635
    Abstract: A wind turbine devices comprises a vertically rotating shaft; and a plurality of horizontally disposed, box-shaped wind catchment vanes connected about the shaft, each vane having an open front face to catch wind flow and a lightweight flap on their rear face that closes when acted upon by wind force to rotate the vane about the shaft. When the latter flap opens, wind spills through the vane thus increasing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel N. Boone
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7695317
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a printed circuit board, a plug fixedly and electrically connected to the printed circuit board, an electromagnetic shielding cover configured for encompassing the printed circuit board, a reinforced frame configured for framing the plug and the electromagnetic shielding cover to the circuit board and, a housing configured for housing the printed circuit board, the plug, the electromagnetic shielding cover and the reinforced frame therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Wei Zhu, Hai-Yang Yu, Er-Zheng Zhao, Hua Jiang, Gang-Hua Liu, Cheng-Tai Shih