Patents Examined by T C Patel
  • Patent number: 7942677
    Abstract: A conductive contact includes a first contacting element that is brought into contact with one of different circuitries; a second contacting element that is brought into contact with another one of the different circuitries; a resilient element that is interposed between the first contacting element and the second contacting element to be expandable and contractible in a longitudinal direction; a first connecting element that connects the resilient element and the first contacting element; and a second connecting element that connects the resilient element and the second contacting element, and has an opening penetrating therethrough in a through-thickness direction. At least a portion of the resilient element is shorter than the first connecting element and the second connecting element in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the through-thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiichi Rikimaru, Koji Ishikawa, Jun Tominaga
  • Patent number: 7944185
    Abstract: A power control system comprises a prime mover and a generator driven by the prime mover. A control device is coupled with the prime mover and the generator wherein the control device ascertains a power level of the generator and varies an output power of the prime mover according to the power level. The control device measures a duty cycle of a generator output power controller to ascertain the generator power level and generates a signal to a prime mover controller so that the generator duty cycle remains within a pre-determined range. The power control system may include a transmission wherein the control device operation maybe conditioned on a state of the transmission. The power control system may include a speed converter coupled with the prime mover wherein the control device converts a speed of the prime mover according to the generator power level. The control device may operate to control an output power of the generator concurrently with controlling the output power of the prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: C. E. Niehoff & Co.
    Inventors: Issam Jabaji, Shadi Jabaji
  • Patent number: 7944183
    Abstract: An output voltage controller for an AC vehicle generator is proposed. The output voltage controller can easily suppress variation in rectified output voltage due to a switching surge without using a slope generation circuit in a voltage adjustment circuit. An excitation circuit that excites a field coil 13 includes a circulation element 31, a semiconductor switch element 33, an inductor 35, and transient voltage absorption means 40. The circulation element 31 is connected in parallel to the field coil 13. The semiconductor switch element 33 is connected in series with the field coil 13 and turned on and off by a voltage adjustment circuit 60. The inductor 35 is connected in series with the field coil 13 and the semiconductor switch element 33. The transient voltage absorption means 40 absorbs a transient voltage generated in the inductor 35 in association with the switching of the semiconductor switch element 33 between ON and OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7944067
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine that includes a brake and one or more rotor blades coupled to a rotor. Upon detection of a loss of counter torque and a blade-pitch failure in at least one rotor blade, a processor reduces a generator overspeed threshold value by a predetermined amount and determines a brake-release threshold value. The brake is applied to slow the rotor if the generator/rotor speed exceeds the reduced generator/rotor overspeed threshold value. In addition, the brake is applied to slow the rotor until the generator/rotor speed is below the brake-release threshold value. The rate of change of the pitch angle of the rotor blade may be varied as the blade moves toward feather in response to the detected blade-pitch failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Axel Braicks, Hubert Oing
  • Patent number: 7938680
    Abstract: A grounding electrical connector includes: an inner sleeve, a front end of the inner sleeve having an outer flange, an annular groove being formed on an inner circumference of the outer flange; an outer sleeve coaxially positioned around the inner sleeve; a nut formed with an inner threaded section for locking with a threaded interface connector of an electronic device, the nut further having a receptacle for receiving the outer flange of the inner sleeve therein; and a conductive grounding spring mounted in the annular groove of the inner sleeve and having multiple inner resilient concave sections. When the threaded section of the nut is screwed onto the threaded interface connector of the electronic device, the inner resilient concave sections of the conductive grounding spring are mechanically and electrically connected with a circumference of the threaded interface connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: EZCONN Corporation
    Inventor: Chi-Feng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7938655
    Abstract: There is provided a lever-type connector capable of preventing the dropping off from an inner housing from an outer housing to remain at a mating connector side, when the lever-type connector is separated from the mating connector. A lever-type connector is provided with an inner housing, an outer housing that is attached to the inner housing and that prevents the separation of a second seal; sliders that are received in slider receiving slots to move slidably and that have cam grooves into which cam pins arranged at the mating connector are inserted; and a lever that is provided at the outer housing to be movable and that slides the sliders. When the lever-type connector is separated from the mating connector, the sliders pull the inner housing in a direction away from the mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Komiyama, Kazushige Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 7938663
    Abstract: In a coaxial plug-connector part with a cap nut, which is disposed rotatably and in an axial force-fit manner on the outer-conductor and which can be screw-connected, in order to generate the contact pressure between the outer-conductor butting contact surfaces of the plug connector, with an external thread of the counter plug-connector part, the frictional torque of the axial force-fit between the cap nut and the outer-conductor is selected to be smaller than the frictional torque between the outer-conductor butting contact surfaces of the plug connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Leipold, Thomas Reichel
  • Patent number: 7938679
    Abstract: Active clamping of an electronic device such as a power strip to the edge of a desk, table, or board featuring at least one force-redirecting mechanism comprising one, two, four, or more moving parts and biasing mechanisms that bias the moving parts into contact with the edge, such that a frictional force increases a clamping force to resist removal of the device from the edge. Different embodiments feature a roller, a ramp, and springs, or cams and springs. In some embodiments, one or two arms project from a housing of the device, which define or form a void configured to engage the edge, and, in certain embodiments, one of the arms has a pivot mount and a release mechanism, or a rotatable knob and clamp. Various embodiments feature a housing containing electronic components such as surge suppression components, power receptacles, a cord, a status indicator, pins, and elastomeric surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Wadsworth, Kenneth Mori
  • Patent number: 7931504
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plug (20) and a socket (40). The plug (20) and the socket (40) have identical numbers of at least two plug contacts (201 to 208) and at least two socket contacts (401 to 408). At least two of the plug contacts (201 to 208) and at least two of the socket contacts (401 to 408) are conductively connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Johann Schiessl
  • Patent number: 7931483
    Abstract: A lever-type connector having a housing that includes a contact receiving area, a slider receiving slot, a slider, a wire cover, an outlet, a lever provided with a connector and being rotatably and detachably disposed on the housing and the cover to slide the slider; a pair of arms that extend from both ends of the connector, and a pair of wall portions arranged at the pivotal end of the arms of the lever. The wall portions extend from a pivotal end of the arms, respectively, and oppose each other at end edges of the wall portions, respectively. The outlet arranged at the wire cover has a width set greater than a width of a contact receiving area in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Komiyama, Kazushige Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 7931491
    Abstract: A cable connector comprising having a housing with an opening for receiving an end of a flat cable therein. The housing also has a plurality of terminal recesses, and a plurality of conductive terminals disposed in the recesses for connecting to conductive leads of the flat cable. The terminals are provided with solder connecting portions for adhering to conductive pads by soldering, and contact portions for contacting the flat cable conductive leads. The terminals recesses are at least partly defined by terminal holding walls confronting external surfaces of the terminals received therein, by broad width portions, and a cut-away portions formed between parts in the terminals holding walls, the parts facing the terminal solder connecting portions and contact portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kazuya Takahashi, Masami Sasao
  • Patent number: 7931473
    Abstract: A device for interfacing power from an electrical supply having power terminals, that permits implementation of a wide range of power cord lengths and voltage connection combinations. The device includes a body having a cord side and an appliance side. The body has four or more terminals located on the cord side of the body, with one terminal being a ground terminal. At least one electrical connecting device is adapted to connect terminals. In a first configuration, the device is used at a lower voltage. In a second configuration, the device is used at a higher voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Crane Pumps & Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Watkins, Mark Kowalak
  • Patent number: 7927148
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, a seat body, a terminal group, a printed circuit board, and a cover. The housing has a hollow body. The seat body is disposed in the housing. The terminal group is disposed on the seat body. An end of the terminal group electrically connects with the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board electrically connects with a microprocessor. The cover covers a bottom portion of the seat body. Pins of the printed circuit board passes through the cover and electrically connects with a main board of an electronic device, making the microprocessor able to calculate or control the electronic device to execute different functions and operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: Nai-Chien Chang
  • Patent number: 7927156
    Abstract: An electrical connector element for connection of a conductor to a circuit board, having a housing, at least one clamp connector for the conductor and at least two connector pins for preferably soldered connection to the circuit board, is disclosed. The housing has at least one separating element made from insulating material, projecting from the lower side, facing away from the circuit board in the assembled position, at least partly arranged between the connector pins and extending through the circuit board in the assembled position, in order to permit the connector pins of the electrical connector element to be arranged closer together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens AG Oesterreich
    Inventors: Wilhelm Appel, Bernhard Eichhorner, Wolfgang Peprny, Martin Petricek, Arnold Schönleitner
  • Patent number: 7927121
    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: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hao-Yun Ma, Darrell Wertz
  • Patent number: 7922545
    Abstract: A press-fit terminal is adapted to be press-fitted in an through-hole of board for electrically conducting with the press-fit terminal. The press-fit terminal includes a terminal-base portion and a board inserting portion at least partially plated with tin. A thickness of the plated tin is from 0.1 to 0.8 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7922526
    Abstract: It is an object to provide electrical equipment eliminating the need to change the diameter of wires, and capable of improving assembly workability. Vehicle-mounted camera equipment includes a circuit substrate having a substrate connector, and a camera housing. An inside connector section which is connected to the substrate connector is provided integrally on an inner surface side of the camera housing, and an outside connector section which is connected to an external connector provided at the end of an external harness is provided integrally on an outer surface side of the camera housing. Connector terminals of the inside connector section and connector terminals of the outside connector section are connected by connecting conductors, respectively, which are provided to be buried in the camera housing. The connector terminals, and the connecting conductors are made of a single conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Okada, Masayuki Ishikura, Jiro Fukui, Masatoshi Koike
  • Patent number: 7918694
    Abstract: A connector assembly for electrically coupling solar shingles is provided. The solar shingles include photovoltaic sections that convert light into electricity and supporting sections having upper surfaces to which additional solar shingles are mounted. The connector assembly includes a contact and a protective cover. The contact electrically couples the photovoltaic sections of adjacent solar shingles by engaging conductive members disposed in recesses of the supporting sections of the solar shingles. The protective cover is disposed in the recesses of the solar shingles. The protective cover encloses the contact between the protective cover and the conductive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Eugene Stahl, Robert Scott Good
  • Patent number: 7918667
    Abstract: An electrical wall outlet comprises an insulating cover portion, LEDs, a pair of magnetic electrodes, and insulating pads. The insulating cover portion encloses outlet electrodes of the wall outlet. The one or more outlet electrodes are ferrous. The LEDs are disposed on the front surface of the insulating cover portion. The pair of magnetic electrodes are disposed on the rear surface of the insulating cover portion, extending from a pair of common terminals of the LEDs that are disposed on the insulating cover portion, toward to one of the one or more outlet electrodes of the electrical wall outlet. The pair of magnetic electrodes are flexible to bend. Also, the pair of magnetic electrodes are resilient to recover when the insulating cover portion is plucked out. The insulating pads keeps the magnetic electrodes from touching parts other than the electrodes of wall outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Henry Hyunbo Shim
  • Patent number: 7918676
    Abstract: First and second connector housings (10, 40) are connected by displacing a force multiplying member (24). The first housing (10) includes a pair of detection terminals (13) and a shorting member (19). The shorting member (19) is displaced between a shorting position where the detection terminals (13) are shorted and a releasing position where the detection terminals (13) are released from a shorted state. The force multiplying member (24) includes a pressing surface (29) that is parallel to a displacing direction of the force multiplying member (24). The pressing surface (29) displaces the shorting member (19) to the shorting position in a partly connected state where the two housings (10, 40) have not reached a completely connected state while displacing the shorting member (19) to the releasing position when the two housings (10, 40) reach the completely connected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Tonosaki