Patents by Inventor Mamiko Naka

Mamiko Naka 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
  • Patent number: 10559435
    Abstract: A highly durable, quiet switch includes a housing, a stationary contact terminal including a fixed portion, a moving contact terminal, a moving contact unit including a body, a moving portion, and an urging member and connected to the moving contact terminal, an operating unit, a first elastic unit that comes in contact with the moving contact unit and elastically deforms when the moving portion moves away from the fixed portion, and a second elastic unit including a contact point between the moving portion and the fixed portion facing the moving portion to come in contact with the moving portion. The second elastic unit elastically deforms and electrically connects the stationary and moving contact terminals when the moving portion moves toward the fixed portion and comes in contact with the contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenobu Kishi, Yoshinori Ijiri, Mamiko Naka
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20180374662
    Abstract: A highly durable, quiet switch includes a housing, a stationary contact terminal including a fixed portion, a moving contact terminal, a moving contact unit including a body, a moving portion, and an urging member and connected to the moving contact terminal, an operating unit, a first elastic unit that comes in contact with the moving contact unit and elastically deforms when the moving portion moves away from the fixed portion, and a second elastic unit including a contact point between the moving portion and the fixed portion facing the moving portion to come in contact with the moving portion. The second elastic unit elastically deforms and electrically connects the stationary and moving contact terminals when the moving portion moves toward the fixed portion and comes in contact with the contact point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenobu Kishi, Yoshinori Ijiri, Mamiko Naka
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10056202
    Abstract: A push button switch includes a housing made up of a base and a cover, a first plunger mounted on the cover so as to be pushed down, a movable contacting piece configured to be driven by a push-down operation on the first plunger, a movable contact provided in the movable contacting piece, and a fixed contact disposed so as to come into and out of contact with the movable contact. Specifically, the movable contacting piece includes a movable contact piece provided with the movable contact, and an operation tongue piece disposed on at least one side of the movable contact piece and coupled with the movable contact piece so as to rotate integrally. The operation tongue piece is operated by the operation body of the first plunger to bring the movable contact into and out of contact with the fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Mamiko Naka, Kenshi Nagata, Hiroaki Fujino
  • Publication number: 20170287657
    Abstract: A push button switch includes a housing made up of a base and a cover, a first plunger mounted on the cover so as to be pushed down, a movable contacting piece configured to be driven by a push-down operation on the first plunger, a movable contact provided in the movable contacting piece, and a fixed contact disposed so as to come into and out of contact with the movable contact. Specifically, the movable contacting piece includes a movable contact piece provided with the movable contact, and an operation tongue piece disposed on at least one side of the movable contact piece and coupled with the movable contact piece so as to rotate integrally. The operation tongue piece is operated by the operation body of the first plunger to bring the movable contact into and out of contact with the fixed contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Mamiko NAKA, Kenshi NAGATA, Hiroaki FUJINO
  • 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