Patents by Inventor Kenji Otomo

Kenji Otomo 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).

  • Publication number: 20130248343
    Abstract: A multidirectional operating switch of the present invention includes a case having a substantially box shape and including a central cylindrical portion provided at substantially the center and a plurality of outer peripheral cylindrical portions provided at substantially equal angular intervals around the central cylindrical portion. The multidirectional operating switch includes an operation body held by the case so as to be pivotable in two or more directions and a wiring substrate arranged below the operation body. The multidirectional operating switch includes a switch contact provided on the wiring substrate of which electrical contact/separation is performed according to pivoting operation of the operation body and a light-emitting device mounted on the wiring substrate. A light through hole is provided on an upper surface of the central cylindrical portion and the light-emitting device is arranged below the central cylindrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio TANAKA, Kenji OTOMO, Akira MIGIUMA
  • Publication number: 20110220476
    Abstract: A switch device includes a box-shaped case, a harness portion, and a fixing member. The harness portion is connected to a switch contact point and includes a plurality of lead lines extending out of the case. The case includes a holding body and a guide portion. The holding body includes a fixing portion protruding from an outer face of the case and provided on a tip side, and a through-hole provided under the fixing portion. The guide portion is opposed to the through-hole and formed in a substantially concave curve shape. The guide portion is formed such that an end portion further from the through-hole is positioned to be above an end portion closer to the through-hole. The fixing member extends through the through-hole and fixes the harness portion to the holding body by winding the harness portion and the fixing portion together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: KAZUHISA FUJITA, MIKIO NISHIMURA, SHIGETAKA DOUZONO, KOUICHI SANTO, KENJI OTOMO
  • Patent number: 8013265
    Abstract: A switch device includes a box-shaped case, a harness portion, and a fixing member. The harness portion is connected to a switch contact point and includes a plurality of lead lines extending out of the case. The case includes a holding body and a guide portion. The holding body includes a fixing portion protruding from an outer face of the case and provided on a tip side, and a through-hole provided under the fixing portion. The guide portion is opposed to the through-hole and formed in a substantially concave curve shape. The guide portion is formed such that an end portion further from the through-hole is positioned to be above an end portion closer to the through-hole. The fixing member extends through the through-hole and fixes the harness portion to the holding body by winding the harness portion and the fixing portion together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Fujita, Mikio Nishimura, Shigetaka Douzono, Kouichi Santo, Kenji Otomo
  • Patent number: 7321101
    Abstract: A switch device includes a operation body, a membrane switch pushed by the operation body, and plural push switches activated by pushing the operation body via the membrane switch. The membrane switch includes plural contact switches electrically connected upon being pushed by the operation body. The switch device is activated easily without operating errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hirobe, Takayoshi Kishimoto, Kenji Otomo, Hitokazu Shitanaka
  • Publication number: 20070089977
    Abstract: A switch device includes a operation body, a membrane switch pushed by the operation body, and plural push switches activated by pushing the operation body via the membrane switch. The membrane switch includes plural contact switches electrically connected upon being pushed by the operation body. The switch device is activated easily without operating errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro HIROBE, Takayoshi KISHIMOTO, Kenji OTOMO, Hitokazu SHITANAKA
  • Patent number: 5354392
    Abstract: A method for electrically connecting an upper wiring with a lower wiring consists of the steps of arranging the upper wiring mixed with thermo-softening material on an upper insulating sheet, arranging the lower wiring mixed with thermo-softening material on a lower insulating sheet, putting the upper insulating sheet on the lower insulating sheet to bring the upper wiring into contact with the lower wiring, and providing ultrasonic vibration to the upper and lower wirings and the upper insulating sheet while pushing the upper insulating sheet toward the lower insulating sheet. In these steps, the upper and lower wirings and the upper insulating sheet are heated and melted because friction heat is generated by the ultrasonic vibration. Thereafter, the upper insulating sheet is pushed into the upper and lower wirings while pushing these wirings aside and is boded with the lower insulating sheet. Also, the upper wiring is bonded with the lower wiring so that these wirings are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Santo, Naohiro Nishioka, Kenji Otomo, Kouji Tanabe, Futoshi Matsui