Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Ushimaru
Hiroshi Ushimaru 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: 7492353Abstract: A fixed shaft mounted to a lower casing holds a tiltable component used for operating tilt-detecting switches. At the upper portion of the tiltable component, a tilt-operation feel providing member including a first slider unit being slidable by the tiltable component, driving bars in contact with the first slider unit, and springs urging the driving bars toward the first slider unit is arranged. First operational-feel providing portions arranged like flowers are formed on the bottom of the first slider unit. When the tiltable component is tilted, the first slider unit is slid. The driving bars are then moved on recesses constituting the first operational-feel providing portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Ushimaru, Yukiharu Hayashi, Takuya Maeda
-
Patent number: 7463241Abstract: A joystick input device includes a casing having a tiltable-component supporter, a tiltable component held in the tiltable-component supporter, tilt-detecting means for detecting a state of tilting of the tiltable component, a pushable component held in the tiltable component, push-detecting means for detecting a state of pushing of the pushable component, and an operation component for performing a tilt operation of the tiltable component and a push operation of the pushable component. The tiltable-component supporter has a pushable-component through-hole through which the leading edge of the pushable component can pass. The tiltable-component supporter regulates a tilt operation of the tiltable component when the leading edge of the pushable component passes through the pushable-component through-hole. A pushable-component stopping portion is formed around the pushable-component through-hole to regulate a push operation of the pushable component when the tiltable component is tilted.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Ushimaru, Yukiharu Hayashi, Tomoaki Nakai, Masaki Sato, Kazumiki Yoshitake
-
Publication number: 20050259088Abstract: There is disclosed a haptic feedback input device including a power supply unit that supplies a torque of a motor to an operating part; a movable part that operates with rotation of the operating part; a control unit that calculates the rotational speed of the operating part from the change in the rotational angle detected by a rotary encoder and controls the motor accordingly to control a resistance force applied to the operating part a movable part fixed to the operating part to rotate with the operating part; a front cover that is mounted at the front of the power supply unit and has a cylindrical portion which comes into sliding contact with a cylindrical portion of the movable part; and grease between the cylindrical portion and a cylindrical portion to generate a viscous resistance against the movable part.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Inventors: Satoru Ogasawara, Hiroshi Ushimaru
-
Publication number: 20050190153Abstract: A joystick input device includes a casing having a tiltable-component supporter, a tiltable component held in the tiltable-component supporter, tilt-detecting means for detecting a state of tilting of the tiltable component, a pushable component held in the tiltable component, push-detecting means for detecting a state of pushing of the pushable component, and an operation component for performing a tilt operation of the tiltable component and a push operation of the pushable component. The tiltable-component supporter has a pushable-component through-hole through which the leading edge of the pushable component can pass. The tiltable-component supporter regulates a tilt operation of the tiltable component when the leading edge of the pushable component passes through the pushable-component through-hole. A pushable-component stopping portion is formed around the pushable-component through-hole to regulate a push operation of the pushable component when the tiltable component is tilted.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2004Publication date: September 1, 2005Inventors: Hiroshi Ushimaru, Yukiharu Hayashi, Tomoaki Nakai, Masaki Sato, Kazumiki Yoshitake
-
Publication number: 20050077156Abstract: A fixed shaft mounted to a lower casing holds a tiltable component used for operating tilt-detecting switches. At the upper portion of the tiltable component, a tilt-operation feel providing member including a first slider unit being slidable by the tiltable component, driving bars in contact with the first slider unit, and springs urging the driving bars toward the first slider unit is arranged. First operational-feel providing portions arranged like flowers are formed on the bottom of the first slider unit. When the tiltable component is tilted, the first slider unit is slid. The driving bars are then moved on recesses constituting the first operational-feel providing portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2004Publication date: April 14, 2005Inventors: Hiroshi Ushimaru, Yukiharu Hayashi, Takuya Maeda
-
Patent number: 6709188Abstract: A fitting member is provided with a base having a flat portion, a stopper protruding forward from the base, and a through hole provided in a flat portion, wherein a knob has a plurality of projections positioned on the same circle. In fitting the knob to the fitting member, when the knob is rotated while being pressed backward in a state in which the projections are kept in contact with the flat portion, the projections slice on and in friction with a flat face, and when the projections hit against the stopper and the rotation of the knob is stopped, the projections and the through hole become opposite each other. After the projections are fitted into the through hole, the knob and the fitting member are enabled to be coupled to each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Ushimaru
-
Publication number: 20040043821Abstract: A fitting member is provided with a base having a flat portion, a stopper protruding forward from the base, and a through hole provided in a flat portion, wherein a knob has a plurality of projections positioned on the same circle. In fitting the knob to the fitting member, when the knob is rotated while being pressed backward in a state in which the projections are kept in contact with the flat portion, the projections slice on and in friction with a flat face, and when the projections hit against the stopper and the rotation of the knob is stopped, the projections and the through hole become opposite each other. After the projections are fitted into the through hole, the knob and the fitting member are enabled to be coupled to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroshi Ushimaru
-
Publication number: 20020144885Abstract: A fitting member is provided with a base having a flat portion, a stopper protruding forward from the base, and a through hole provided in a flat portion, wherein a knob has a plurality of projections positioned on the same circle. In fitting the knob to the fitting member, when the knob is rotated while being pressed backward in a state in which the projections are kept in contact with the flat portion, the projections slice on and in friction with a flat face, and when the projections hit against the stopper and the rotation of the knob is stopped, the projections and the through hole become opposite each other. After the projections are fitted into the through hole, the knob and the fitting member are enabled to be coupled to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2002Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Ushimaru
-
Patent number: 6069327Abstract: A switch device including a case with an open bottom and a holder therein, a first movable contact member secured to the holder and provided with a movable contact section, a bottom plate for covering the open bottom of the case, a slide knob for performing switching operations, a slider joined to the slide knob through a slot formed in the case so as to reciprocate and having a thick-walled section which causes the movable contact section moving vertically as the slider reciprocates, and a printed board inserted into the case and provided with a first fixed contact which comes into contact with the movable contact which moves vertically, whereby electricity is conducted. The switch device makes it possible to minimize sliding at the contact section, so that the contact section does not wear after long use.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1996Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Ushimaru
-
Patent number: 5642929Abstract: A lighted knob including a knob body provided with light transmission holes, and nameplates through at least a part of which the light from light sources passes. And in a part of the nameplates are formed incorrect assembly preventive light sections; and on a part of the peripheral edge of the translucent sections are formed shield sections, so that the incorrect assembly preventive light sections will not be shielded unless the specific nameplates are attached to specific translucent sections.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1996Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Ushimaru