Patents by Inventor Tien-Ming Chou

Tien-Ming Chou 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: 20240128033
    Abstract: A tilt ball switch includes a cover, a first positioning unit, a plurality of conductive members, a conductive ball, a base wall, a surrounding wall that extends from a periphery of the base wall, and an opening that is formed at one end of the surrounding wall opposite to the base wall. The cover closes the opening, and cooperates with the base wall and the surrounding wall to define a receiving space. The first positioning unit is disposed in the receiving space, and is positioned between the base wall and the cover. The conductive ball is convertible between a conducting state, in which the conductive ball is in contact with at least two of the conductive members, and a non-conducting state, in which the conductive ball is spaced apart from the conductive members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Patent number: 11854754
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes abase unit having bottom, top and intermediate layer assemblies cooperatively defining a receiving space. One of the bottom, top and intermediate layer assemblies has a mounting surface. A sensor unit is disposed in the receiving space and includes a light emitter, a light receiver, and a rolling member for changing the amount of light received by the light receiver. A conducting unit includes a power supply section, a power supply conducting element disposed on the mounting surface, and a signal conducting element disposed on the mounting surface and spaced apart from the power supply conducting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 11694865
    Abstract: A tilt ball switch has a chamber space, and includes a first terminal, a second terminal including two outer terminal members and an inner terminal member, and a conductive ball movably disposed in the chamber space and convertible between a conducting state, in which the conductive ball is in contact with the first terminal and the inner terminal member so that the first terminal is conductively connected to the outer terminal members, and a non-conducting state, in which the conductive ball is prevented from being in contact with one of the first terminal and the inner terminal member so that the first terminal is prevented from being conductively connected to the outer terminal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 11646169
    Abstract: A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a ball unit disposed in the roller cavity and moveable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define a first angle that ranges from 2 to 12 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 11631556
    Abstract: A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a conductive rolling-ball disposed in the roller cavity and movable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define an angle ranging from 5 to 55 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Publication number: 20230028369
    Abstract: A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a conductive rolling-ball disposed in the roller cavity and movable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define an angle ranging from 5 to 55 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20230021545
    Abstract: A rolling-ball tilt switch includes a conductive housing having an inner surface that surrounds a longitudinal axis and that defines a roller cavity, an insulating seat inserted into the roller cavity, a conductive terminal having a protruding section extending through the insulating seat into the roller cavity, and a ball unit disposed in the roller cavity and moveable between a conducting position and a non-conducting position. The longitudinal axis and an extension of a surface portion of the inner surface of the conductive housing cooperatively define a first angle that ranges from 2 to 12 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Publication number: 20230027549
    Abstract: A tilt ball switch has a chamber space, and includes a first terminal, a second terminal including two outer terminal members and an inner terminal member, and a conductive ball movably disposed in the chamber space and convertible between a conducting state, in which the conductive ball is in contact with the first terminal and the inner terminal member so that the first terminal is conductively connected to the outer terminal members, and a non-conducting state, in which the conductive ball is prevented from being in contact with one of the first terminal and the inner terminal member so that the first terminal is prevented from being conductively connected to the outer terminal members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20230018144
    Abstract: A tilt ball switch includes an insulation housing, a conductive ball, and two conductive terminals that cooperate with the insulation housing to define a chamber space. Each of the conductive terminals includes an inner terminal member that has a tapering section. The conductive ball is disposed to be movable in the chamber space and is convertible between a conducting state, in which the conductive ball is located at the tapering sections so that the inner terminal members are conductively connected to each other, and a non-conducting state, in which the conductive ball is separated from the tapering sections so that the inner terminal members are prevented from being conductively connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Patent number: 11309150
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes two electroconductive terminals and two electroconductive beads. The electroconductive terminals are spaced apart along an axis. Each of the electroconductive terminals has an inner surrounding surface surrounding the axis and having an indented segment indented away from the axis. The electroconductive beads are movably and respectively disposed in the electroconductive terminals. When the sensor switch is placed such that the axis horizontally leveled, the electroconductive beads are respectively retained in the indented segments of the electroconductive terminals to be spaced apart from each other so that the sensor switch is in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Publication number: 20210358703
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes two electroconductive terminals and two electroconductive beads. The electroconductive terminals are spaced apart along an axis. Each of the electroconductive terminals has an inner surrounding surface surrounding the axis and having an indented segment indented away from the axis. The electroconductive beads are movably and respectively disposed in the electroconductive terminals. When the sensor switch is placed such that the axis horizontally leveled, the electroconductive beads are respectively retained in the indented segments of the electroconductive terminals to be spaced apart from each other so that the sensor switch is in an open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20210327668
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes abase unit having bottom, top and intermediate layer assemblies cooperatively defining a receiving space. One of the bottom, top and intermediate layer assemblies has a mounting surface. A sensor unit is disposed in the receiving space and includes a light emitter, a light receiver, and a rolling member for changing the amount of light received by the light receiver. A conducting unit includes a power supply section, a power supply conducting element disposed on the mounting surface, and a signal conducting element disposed on the mounting surface and spaced apart from the power supply conducting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20210325180
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes a base unit having bottom, top and intermediate layer assemblies cooperating with each other to define a chamber. The intermediate layer assembly has an intermediate layer inner peripheral surface. A conducting unit includes a plurality of inner and outer conducting elements. Each inner conducting element has a first conducting section. The first conducting sections of the inner conducting elements are disposed on the intermediate layer inner peripheral surface in an angularly spaced apart manner. Each outer conducting element is connected to the first conducting section of a corresponding inner conducting element. A conductive member is rollably disposed in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20210327667
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes a ceramic body including an intermediate layer assembly having an inner peripheral surface with a through hole, a first side layer assembly having a first groove, and a second side layer assembly having a second groove. A first conductive layer is disposed in the first groove, and has a first contact surface. A second conductive layer is disposed in the second groove, and has a second contact surface. The inner peripheral surface and the first and second contact surfaces cooperatively define a sensing cavity. A conductive member is rollably disposed in the sensing cavity and is movable between closed and open circuit positions to achieve a sensing effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20210304990
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes a ceramic body, first and second conductive units and a conductive member. The ceramic body includes intermediate, bottom and top layer assemblies cooperatively defining a chamber. The intermediate layer assembly has an intermediate layer inner peripheral surface. The first conductive unit has a first conductive layer covering the intermediate layer inner peripheral surface. The second conductive unit has a second conductive layer protruding from the bottom layer top surface and spaced apart from the first conductive layer. The conductive member is rollably disposed in the chamber and is limited by the second conductive layer for forming a current path with the first and second conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20210304989
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes a ceramic body, first and second conductive units and a conductive member. The ceramic body includes intermediate, bottom and top layer assemblies cooperatively defining a chamber. The intermediate layer assembly has an intermediate layer inner peripheral surface. The bottom layer assembly has a bottom groove communicating with the chamber. The first conductive unit has a first conductive layer covering the intermediate layer inner peripheral surface. The second conductive unit has at least one second conductive layer disposed in the bottom groove. The conductive member is rollably disposed in the chamber for forming a current path with the first and second conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Publication number: 20200168072
    Abstract: A portable lighting and warning device includes: a housing; a lighting generator unit; a sensor unit sensing shaking of the housing to generate a sense output; a mode selector unit generating a mode indication signal; a warning generator unit; and a controller unit. In a case where the mode indication signal indicates a lighting mode, the controller unit controls the lighting generator unit to emit light. In a case where the mode indication signal indicates a warning mode, the controller unit waits for a predetermined pause time, and then controls the warning generator unit and the lighting generator unit to output sound and emit light when the sense output corresponds to the shaking of the housing not less than a predetermined in intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventor: Tien-Ming CHOU
  • Patent number: 10657788
    Abstract: A portable lighting and warning device includes: a housing; a lighting generator unit; a sensor unit sensing shaking of the housing to generate a sense output; a mode selector unit generating a mode indication signal; a warning generator unit; and a controller unit. In a case where the mode indication signal indicates a lighting mode, the controller unit controls the lighting generator unit to emit light. In a case where the mode indication signal indicates a warning mode, the controller unit waits for a predetermined pause time, and then controls the warning generator unit and the lighting generator unit to output sound and emit light when the sense output corresponds to the shaking of the housing not less than a predetermined level in intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 10107750
    Abstract: A detecting apparatus includes a container, and a detecting device including a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module includes a light-emitting element provided at a first point of the container and operable to transmit a photo signal to propagate toward the container along an optical path. The receiving module includes a light-receiving element provided at a second point of the container and configured to receive the photo signal transmitted through the container. The receiving module is operable to determine whether a substance is present within the container based on receipt of the photo signal. An imaginary tangent plane tangent to the first point is not parallel to an imaginary tangent plane tangent to the second point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou
  • Publication number: 20180102228
    Abstract: A sensor switch includes an insulated housing having an inner wall surface that defines a through hole. The through hole has a shoulder interconnecting large and small diameter hole sections thereof. A first conductive terminal includes a head portion embedded in the large diameter hole section and having a first contact surface. A plug portion of a second conductive terminal is embedded in the large diameter hole section spaced apart from the head portion and has a second contact surface facing the first contact surface. The inner wall surface and the first and second contact surfaces cooperatively confine a sensing chamber. At least one conductive member is rollably accommodated in the sensing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventor: Tien-Ming Chou