Patents by Inventor Kazuhira Izawa

Kazuhira Izawa 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: 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: 11410822
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe a base, an operation unit that moves in a contacting/separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, and a pair of link members turnably coupled to each other by a coupling portion and configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting/separating direction. The pair of link members includes a first curved portion and a second curved portion that are supported on the base, and a first rotary spindle and a second rotary spindle that are supported on the operation unit. When the operation unit moves in the contacting/separating direction with respect to the base, the first curved portion and the second curved portion slide with respect to the base in a direction substantially perpendicular to the contacting/separating direction and in a direction substantially perpendicular to a turning shaft of the pair of link members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Hiroaki Fujino, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 11189441
    Abstract: A key switch device includes a base, a button mounted on the base so as to be contactable and separable, an elastic body disposed between the base and the button and configured to urge the button in a direction away from the base, and a linear reinforcement member provided on the button and configured to prevent the button from being inclined when the button is operated in a direction toward the base. An outer surface portion of the button includes a recessed support portion in which a part of the linear reinforcement members is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata, Hiroaki Fujino
  • Patent number: 11004628
    Abstract: A key switch device includes a base including an opening in a central part thereof; a light guide including an elastic body receiving portion, the light guide being supported by the base to be disposed in the opening; a button attached capable of approaching and separating from the base to cover the light guide; an elastic body disposed between the elastic body receiving portion and a lower surface of the button, the elastic body biasing the button in a separating direction where the button is separated from the base; a fixed contact piece including a fixed contact, the fixed contact piece being attached to the base; and a movable contact piece, which is attached to the base, including a movable contact to be brought into contact with the fixed contact when the button is moved toward the base in an approaching direction where the button approaches the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata, Shigenobu Kishi
  • Patent number: 10998149
    Abstract: The key switch includes, a base, a button attached to the base so as to be capable of coming into contact with the base and separating from the base, and a coil spring disposed between the base and the button for urging the button in a direction separating from the base. The coil spring has at least an end turn portion formed at one end, a densely wound portion that is continuous with the end turn portion and compressed in an initial state in which the button is attached to the base so that adjacent windings come into contact with each other, and a coarsely wound portion which is continuous with the densely wound portion and in which a winding pitch is larger than that of the densely wound portion, and in the initial state, adjacent windings are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujino, Kazuhira Izawa, Junichi Seto, Mamiko Naka
  • Publication number: 20210082639
    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: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira IZAWA, Junichi SETO, Mamiko NAKA
  • Patent number: 10915181
    Abstract: A switch has a base, an operation unit disposed on the base and moving in a contacting-separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, and a link member configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting-separating direction and support the operation unit on the base. The base includes a base-side latching portion. The operation unit includes an operation-unit-side latching portion configured to be latched to base-side latching portion at an end of an allowable movement range for the operation unit in a separating direction in which the operation unit is separated from the base. The base-side latching portion and the operation-unit-side latching portion are latched to each other to inhibit the operation unit from moving in the separating direction beyond the separating-direction end of the allowable movement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Hiroaki Fujino, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20200402739
    Abstract: The key switch includes, a base, a button attached to the base so as to be capable of coming into contact with the base and separating from the base, and a coil spring disposed between the base and the button for urging the button in a direction separating from the base. The coil spring has at least an end turn portion formed at one end, a densely wound portion that is continuous with the end turn portion and compressed in an initial state in which the button is attached to the base so that adjacent windings come into contact with each other, and a coarsely wound portion which is continuous with the densely wound portion and in which a winding pitch is larger than that of the densely wound portion, and in the initial state, adjacent windings are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki FUJINO, Kazuhira IZAWA, Junichi SETO, Mamiko NAKA
  • Publication number: 20200328047
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe a base, an operation unit that moves in a contacting/separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, and a pair of link members turnably coupled to each other by a coupling portion and configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting/separating direction. The pair of link members includes a first curved portion and a second curved portion that are supported on the base, and a first rotary spindle and a second rotary spindle that are supported on the operation unit. When the operation unit moves in the contacting/separating direction with respect to the base, the first curved portion and the second curved portion slide with respect to the base in a direction substantially perpendicular to the contacting/separating direction and in a direction substantially perpendicular to a turning shaft of the pair of link members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Hiroaki Fujino, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20200326788
    Abstract: A switch has a base, an operation unit disposed on the base and moving in a contacting-separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, and a link member configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting-separating direction and support the operation unit on the base. The base includes a base-side latching portion. The operation unit includes an operation-unit-side latching portion configured to be latched to base-side latching portion at an end of an allowable movement range for the operation unit in a separating direction in which the operation unit is separated from the base. The base-side latching portion and the operation-unit-side latching portion are latched to each other to inhibit the operation unit from moving in the separating direction beyond the separating-direction end of the allowable movement range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicants: OMRON Corporation, OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Hiroaki Fujino, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20200243279
    Abstract: A key switch device includes a base including an opening in a central part thereof; a light guide including an elastic body receiving portion, the light guide being supported by the base to be disposed in the opening; a button attached capable of approaching and separating from the base to cover the light guide; an elastic body disposed between the elastic body receiving portion and a lower surface of the button, the elastic body biasing the button in a separating direction where the button is separated from the base; a fixed contact piece including a fixed contact, the fixed contact piece being attached to the base; and a movable contact piece, which is attached to the base, including a movable contact to be brought into contact with the fixed contact when the button is moved toward the base in an approaching direction where the button approaches the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata, Shigenobu Kishi
  • Patent number: 10714282
    Abstract: A switch has a base, an operation unit disposed above the base and moving in a contacting-separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, a pair of link members configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting-separating direction, and a coupling portion configured to turnably couple the pair of link members to each other. Each of the pair of link members each includes a coupling-portion-side supported portion supported on one of the base and the operation unit and an end-side supported portion supported on the other of the base and the operation unit. One of the base and the operation unit on which the coupling-portion-side supported portion is supported includes a wall surface provided with a movement space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Hiroaki Fujino, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20190214200
    Abstract: A key switch device includes a base, a button mounted on the base so as to be contactable and separable, an elastic body disposed between the base and the button and configured to urge the button in a direction away from the base, and a linear reinforcement member provided on the button and configured to prevent the button from being inclined when the button is operated in a direction toward the base. An outer surface portion of the button includes a recessed support portion in which a part of the linear reinforcement members is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata, Hiroaki Fujino
  • Publication number: 20190088427
    Abstract: A switch has a base, an operation unit disposed above the base and moving in a contacting-separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, a pair of link members configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting-separating direction, and a coupling portion configured to turnably couple the pair of link members to each other. Each of the pair of link members each includes a coupling-portion-side supported portion supported on one of the base and the operation unit and an end-side supported portion supported on the other of the base and the operation unit. One of the base and the operation unit on which the coupling-portion-side supported portion is supported includes a wall surface provided with a movement space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Hiroaki Fujino, Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 10079125
    Abstract: An illuminated push-button switch according to the present invention includes a key top, a plunger, and a supporting fix member that forms a space between the key top and the plunger, and supports and fixes together the key top and the plunger. A plurality of the supporting fix members are provided, separated from each other, in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis. With this configuration, the illuminated push-button switch having a wide illuminated region secured on a touch surface, and a keyboard can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Mamiko Naka
  • Publication number: 20170011871
    Abstract: An illuminated push-button switch according to the present invention includes a key top, a plunger, and a supporting fix member that forms a space between the key top and the plunger, and supports and fixes together the key top and the plunger. A plurality of the supporting fix members are provided, separated from each other, in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis. With this configuration, the illuminated push-button switch having a wide illuminated region secured on a touch surface, and a keyboard can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira IZAWA, Mamiko NAKA
  • Patent number: 9362066
    Abstract: A space where a member is disposed is ensured in a central portion without changing dimensions of an appearance. In a push-button switch, a movable contact portion is disposed while bent in an outer peripheral space between an insertion pipe and sidewalls constituting a quadratic-prism lower case, and the sidewall closest to a position where a projected terminal portion is disposed differs from the sidewall closest to a position where an abutment portion is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhira Izawa
  • Patent number: 9305721
    Abstract: A switch comprising: a cover; a base; and a push button comprising: an elastic touch piece formed in a sidewall of a sliding part of the push button, wherein the push button is vertically and slidably installed in a space formed by assembling the cover to the base, wherein a free end of the elastic touch piece is configured to abut the base when the push button is pushed, and the free end is configured to abut the cover when the pushed push button is returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Mamiko Naka
  • Patent number: 9117600
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an electric magnet device, in which a smooth movement of an armature is ensured and, even if a vibration or an impact is applied, an attraction state between a yoke and the armature is maintained to prevent a malfunction, and a switch provided therewith, where the electric magnet device includes: a coil adapted to insert through an armature and a yoke so as to attract surfaces of the yoke and the armature, which are opposed to each other, to receive a voltage, to excite for separating the surfaces of the yoke and the armature; the armature disposed on one end side of the coil; and the yoke disposed on the other end side of the coil and adapted to oscillate, such that an oscillation angle of the yoke is greater than that of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Kenshi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20150041298
    Abstract: A switch comprising: a cover; a base; and a push button comprising: an elastic touch piece formed in a sidewall of a sliding part of the push button, wherein the push button is vertically and slidably installed in a space formed by assembling the cover to the base, wherein a free end of the elastic touch piece is configured to abut the base when the push button is pushed, and the free end is configured to abut the cover when the pushed push button is returned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhira Izawa, Mamiko Naka