Patents by Inventor Tatsuaki Kawase
Tatsuaki Kawase 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).
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Patent number: 11364435Abstract: An operation device includes a housing, a tiltable cylindrical operation member having a step portion on an inner circumferential surface, a first holding member which is held by the housing and rotatable in a first direction in accordance with a tilting operation of the operation member, a first detecting portion for detecting a rotation of the first holding member, and a returning mechanism disposed inside the operation member to return the tilted operation member to an initial position, wherein the returning mechanism includes an actuator, a slide member having a first cam surface at one end, a cam member having a second cam surface at one end which faces the first cam surface, a first elastic member, and a second elastic member.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoya Endo, Makoto Hayashi, Tatsuaki Kawase, Nobuyuki Ninomiya, Tomoyasu Nagano, Hidekazu Kato, Shuji Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20220099166Abstract: A controller controls an operating device. The operating device includes an operating member capable of being pushed by an operator, a biasing unit biasing the operating member in a return direction, a detecting unit configured to detect a distance of movement of the operating member and output a detection signal indicating the distance of movement, and a braking unit configured to brake movement of the operating member. In response to determining, based on the detection signal, that the operating member is pushed into a predetermined retracted position, the controller causes the braking unit to hold the operating member pushed. In response to determining, based on the detection signal, that the operating member is moved in the return direction because of a clearance in a drive transmission system between the operating member and the braking unit, the controller causes the braking unit to stop holding the operating member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Hidekazu Kato, Tatsuaki Kawase
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Publication number: 20210236919Abstract: An operation device includes a housing, a tiltable cylindrical operation member having a step portion on an inner circumferential surface, a first holding member which is held by the housing and rotatable in a first direction in accordance with a tilting operation of the operation member, a first detecting portion for detecting a rotation of the first holding member, and a returning mechanism disposed inside the operation member to return the tilted operation member to an initial position, wherein the returning mechanism includes an actuator, a slide member having a first cam surface at one end, a cam member having a second cam surface at one end which faces the first cam surface, a first elastic member, and a second elastic member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Tomoya ENDO, Makoto HAYASHI, Tatsuaki KAWASE, Nobuyuki NINOMIYA, Tomoyasu NAGANO, Hidekazu KATO, Shuji FUJIWARA
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Patent number: 10855157Abstract: A power generation device includes a push member configured to move back and forth in a first pushing direction and a second pushing direction to push a rotating body to move between a first stable attitude and a second stable attitude, an operation member configured to move in a first direction and a second direction, and a switching spring member arranged between the operation member and the push member. The switching spring member is configured to urge the push member in the first pushing direction to cause the rotating body to move toward the second stable attitude when the operation member moves in the first direction, and the switching spring member is configured to urge the push member in the second pushing direction to cause the rotating body to move toward the first stable attitude when the operation member moves in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuyuki Ninomiya, Tatsuaki Kawase, Shuji Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20190333718Abstract: A push switch includes a housing; a fixed contact member, including a fixed contact, placed inside the housing; a movable contact member, including a movable portion, placed inside the housing; a slider, which moves in a vertical direction, placed above the fixed contact member and the movable contact member; and an elastic member, having a restoring force in a direction in which the slider separates from the housing, placed between the housing and the slider. A movable member is placed between the housing and the slider and is in contact with a part of the slider and is movable as the slider moves. As the slider is pushed toward the housing, the movable member in contact with the slider moves, whereby the fixed contact and the movable portion are separated from each other, or the fixed contact and the movable portion are brought into contact with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Makoto HAYASHI, Nobuyuki NINOMIYA, Tatsuaki KAWASE, Hisato SHIMOMURA
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Patent number: 10418204Abstract: A switch device includes a housing, an operating member, a fixed contact, and a moving contact. The moving contact is, while being in contact with the fixed contact, urged toward the fixed contact so as to be in elastic contact with the fixed contact. The fixed contact includes a plate portion and is held by the housing with a space on one surface side of the plate portion. The moving contact includes a first extended portion that extends so as to intersect the plate portion. When the moving contact and the fixed contact are in contact with each other, the first extended portion intersects the plate portion while being inclined relative to the plate portion, and the first extended portion is in elastic contact with a corner portion on a one surface side of an edge of the plate portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.Inventors: Makoto Hayashi, Hisato Shimomura, Hidekazu Kato, Tatsuaki Kawase
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Publication number: 20190181739Abstract: A power generation device includes a push member configured to move back and forth in a first pushing direction and a second pushing direction to push a rotating body to move between a first stable attitude and a second stable attitude, an operation member configured to move in a first direction and a second direction, and a switching spring member arranged between the operation member and the push member. The switching spring member is configured to urge the push member in the first pushing direction to cause the rotating body to move toward the second stable attitude when the operation member moves in the first direction, and the switching spring member is configured to urge the push member in the second pushing direction to cause the rotating body to move toward the first stable attitude when the operation member moves in the second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Nobuyuki NINOMIYA, Tatsuaki KAWASE, Shuji FUJIWARA
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Publication number: 20180068809Abstract: A switch device includes a housing, an operating member, a fixed contact, and a moving contact. The moving contact is, while being in contact with the fixed contact, urged toward the fixed contact so as to be in elastic contact with the fixed contact. The fixed contact includes a plate portion and is held by the housing with a space on one surface side of the plate portion. The moving contact includes a first extended portion that extends so as to intersect the plate portion. When the moving contact and the fixed contact are in contact with each other, the first extended portion intersects the plate portion while being inclined relative to the plate portion, and the first extended portion is in elastic contact with a corner portion on a one surface side of an edge of the plate portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Makoto Hayashi, Hisato Shimomura, Hidekazu Kato, Tatsuaki Kawase
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Publication number: 20120153873Abstract: A straight-tube LED lamp switch device includes a first terminal protruding from a housing; an operating body having an operating portion that can receive a pressing operation into the housing; a second terminal that is brought into conduction with the first terminal by the pressing operation; and a torsion spring that restores the operating body to an initial state before the pressing operation. The housing has therein a housing portion that houses the operating body when the pressing operation is performed. The operating body is tilted by a pressing operation from at least one side of opposite directions with respect to a protruding direction of the first terminal. By the tilting, at least part of the operating portion is housed in the housing portion and the first terminal is brought into conduction with the second terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Hayashi, Toshiharu Mori, Tatsuaki Kawase, Takuya Tanaka, Syuji Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20120155074Abstract: A straight-tube LED lamp switch device includes a first terminal protruding from a housing; an operating body having an operating portion that can receive a pressing operation into the housing; a second terminal that is brought into conduction with the first terminal by the pressing operation on the operating body; and a torsion spring that restores the operating body to an initial state before the pressing operation. A position of a distal end portion of the operating body in the initial state protrudes outside with respect to a distal end portion of the first terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiharu MORI, Tatsuaki KAWASE, Makoto HAYASHI, Takuya TANAKA, Syuji FUJIWARA
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Patent number: 6642462Abstract: In electronic equipment which includes a casing, a lid body which is rotatably supported on the casing, a hinge member which is formed by mounting a frame body on one of the lid body and the casing and by making a shaft body projected from the frame body rotatably support the other of the lid body and the casing, and a switch which detects rotation of the lid body, the switch is formed of an individual rotary switch which accommodates a rotary manipulation body having a hollow shaft hollow hole, a movable contact which is integrally rotated with the rotary manipulation body and a stationary contact which is brought into slide contact with the movable contact inside a housing, wherein the shaft body of the hinge member is inserted into the hollow shaft hole of the rotary manipulation body, and the rotation of the lid body is detected in response to the slide contact between the movable contact and the stationary contact which is generated along with rotation of the shaft body.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Ninomiya, Hiroki Oba, Takayuki Itabashi, Tatsuaki Kawase
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Patent number: 6555770Abstract: The present invention provides a composite operation switch that provides for more functions without increasing the number of switches and expanding its size, and provides satisfactory operability for switch selection operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tatsuaki Kawase
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Patent number: 6525713Abstract: A cordinate input device is provided in which z-coordinate of an image object and a command to scroll the image can be inputted, a positive manipulation feeling can be obtained when changing scrolling speed (the amount of scrolling) of an image, and an accurate scrolling adjustment is enabled. The coordinate input device includes a casing, an (x, y) coordinate information input unit 6, push-button switches 7 and 8 for inputting the (x, y) coordinate information detected by the (x, y) coordinate information input unit 6, and an input manipulation unit for inputting z-coordinate information and image scrolling information in addition to the (x, y) coordinate information. The input manipulation unit includes a jog/shuttle switch 9 having a jog dial and a shuttle dial coaxially disposed.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2000Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kaoru Soeta, Hiroki Oba, Tatsuaki Kawase
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Publication number: 20020130019Abstract: In electronic equipment which includes a casing, a lid body which is rotatably supported on the casing, a hinge member which is formed by mounting a frame body on one of the lid body and the casing and by making a shaft body projected from the frame body rotatably support the other of the lid body and the casing, and a switch which detects rotation of the lid body, the switch is formed of an individual rotary switch which accommodates a rotary manipulation body having a hollow shaft hollow hole, a movable contact which is integrally rotated with the rotary manipulation body and a stationary contact which is brought into slide contact with the movable contact inside a housing, wherein the shaft body of the hinge member is inserted into the hollow shaft hole of the rotary manipulation body, and the rotation of the lid body is detected in response to the slide contact between the movable contact and the stationary contact which is generated along with rotation of the shaft body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuyuki Ninomiya, Hiroki Oba, Takayuki Itabashi, Tatsuaki Kawase
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Publication number: 20020003081Abstract: The present invention provides a composite operation switch that provides for more functions without increasing the number of switches and expanding its size, and provides satisfactory operability for switch selection operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2001Publication date: January 10, 2002Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Tatsuaki Kawase
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Patent number: 5924556Abstract: A push switch including a rotatably supported movable contact member with a movable contact portion which comes into contact with and separates from a stationary contact; and a cam shaft rotatably disposed between the lower surface of a plunger and the movable contact member. The switching driver portion of the cam shaft slides on the movable contact member. The force used to push down the plunger is exerted on the movable contact member through the switching driver portion to tilt the movable contact member.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuaki Kawase, Eiji Kimura