Patents by Inventor Hiroo Nomura

Hiroo Nomura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8755175
    Abstract: Mobile equipment includes an operation panel disposed in an opening of a case. The operation panel includes electrode layers that constitute a position detector. The operation panel and an internal member inside the case are provided with respective electrode layers that are opposite each other and constitute a press detector. An elastic member that supports the operation panel has a fixed portion secured to the case, a support portion configured to support the operation panel, and an elastic repulsive portion. When the operation panel is pressed, the magnitude of a reaction force against the pressing force can be adjusted to an appropriate level primarily by buckling or bending of the elastic repulsive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroo Nomura
  • Publication number: 20120008266
    Abstract: Mobile equipment includes an operation panel disposed in an opening of a case. The operation panel includes electrode layers that constitute a position detector. The operation panel and an internal member inside the case are provided with respective electrode layers that are opposite each other and constitute a press detector. An elastic member that supports the operation panel has a fixed portion secured to the case, a support portion configured to support the operation panel, and an elastic repulsive portion. When the operation panel is pressed, the magnitude of a reaction force against the pressing force can be adjusted to an appropriate level primarily by buckling or bending of the elastic repulsive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroo NOMURA
  • Patent number: 6700508
    Abstract: A keyboard unit capable of making large the stroke of a key top and a sure click touch. In one aspect of the invention, the keyboard unit of the present invention comprises an elastic material such as a domed reversible return spring. In another aspect, a predetermined space is formed between a piezoelectric element and the base plate. The piezoelectric elements may extend underneath two support bodies from a first support body to a second support body. Each membrane switch and the return spring is depressed and reversed by a stem, wherein each of the piezoelectric elements is driven through the contact point of the respective membrane switch. The resulting driving force is transmitted to the respective key top through the stem. The stem is then elastically deformed and contracted by the inertia force pressing the key top to produce the stroke of the key top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroo Nomura, Yuichi Yasuda, Yoshihisa Endo