Patents Issued in March 31, 2015
  • Patent number: 8993878
    Abstract: An electrode for a photovoltaic device includes a Mo layer and a sulfurization-resistant layer formed on the Mo layer. The sulfurization-resistant layer contains at least one element X selected from a group consisting of Nb, Ti, Ta, Au, V, Mn, and W. A molar ratio of the element X to Mo contained in the sulfurization-resistant layer preferably satisfies X/(Mo+X)>about 0.5. A thickness (initial thickness) of the sulfurization-resistant layer before being exposed to sulfurizing atmosphere is preferably about 3 to about 200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Hirofumi Hazama, Ryoji Asahi, Yumi Saiki
  • Patent number: 8993879
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a bonding layer connecting a first semiconductor wafer layer to a second semiconductor wafer layer, the bonding layer including an electrically conductive carbonaceous component and a binder component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andreea Boca, Daniel C. Law, Joseph Charles Boisvert, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 8993880
    Abstract: Providing a dye-sensitized solar cell having high durability and thermal resistance, and preventing elution of a platinum group catalyst from a catalytic electrode: by surface-treating the catalytic electrode with (a) a specific sulfur material having a molecular weight of 32 to 10,000 containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, (b) another specific sulfur material containing no sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, but containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of +1 to +4 [with the proviso that the sulfur material (b) is such a material that a surface of the surface-treated catalyst electrode has a photoelectron peak within a binding energy range of 161 to 165 eV in an X-ray photoelectron spectrum], or (c) a mixture of the sulfur materials (a) and (b); and/or by adding the sulfur material into the electrolyte layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Shimane Prefectural Government
    Inventors: Naoto Imawaka, Kazuhiko Matsubayashi
  • Patent number: 8993881
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an organic photovoltaic cell includes providing a first electrode; depositing a series of at least seven layers onto the first electrode, each layer consisting essentially of a different organic semiconductor material, the organic semiconductor material of at least an intermediate layer of the sequence being a photoconductive material; and depositing a second electrode onto the sequence of at least seven layers. One of the first electrode and the second electrode is an anode and the other is a cathode. The organic semiconductor materials of the series of at least seven layers are arranged to provide a sequence of decreasing lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) and a sequence of decreasing highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) across the series from the anode to the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Barry Rand, Stephen R. Forrest, Diane Pendergrast Burk
  • Patent number: 8993882
    Abstract: The present invention provides strategies for making high quality CIGS photoabsorbing materials from precursor films that incorporate a sub-stoichiometric amount of chalcogen(s). Chalcogen(s) are incorporated into the CIGS precursor film via co-sputtering with one or more other constituents of the precursor. Optional annealing also may be practiced to convert precursor into more desirable chalcopyrite crystalline form in event all or a portion of the precursor has another constitution. The resultant precursors generally are sub-stoichiometric with respect to chalcogen and have very poor electronic characteristics. The conversion of these precursors into CMS photoabsorbing material via chalcogenizing treatment occurs with dramatically reduced interfacial void content. The resultant CIGS material displays excellent adhesion to other layers in the resultant photovoltaic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: DOW Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer E. Gerbi, Marc G. Langlois, Robert T. Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8993883
    Abstract: A differential signal transmission cable includes a pair of insulated electric wires disposed to be parallel with each other, and a shield layer formed of a metal foil composite tape spirally wound around the pair of insulated electric wires collectively. The shield layer is formed by folding the metal foil composite tape along a longitudinal direction of the metal foil composite tape such that a surface on which a metal foil is provided is located outside to provide a folded portion, and winding the metal foil composite tape around the pair of insulated electric wires such that at least a part of the folded portion is located at a spiral overlapped region of the metal foil composite tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kumakura, Takahiro Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8993884
    Abstract: A wire theft deterrent system includes a first U-shaped portion and a second U-shaped portion for encapsulating wire in a riser that is associated with a telephone pole. The first and second U-shaped portions are both made of stainless steel, so as to be substantially resistant to saw blades and hammers. The first U-shaped portion and the second U-shaped portion are connected to one another by high-security fasteners, each of which passes through an aperture in a flange of the first U-shaped portion and a corresponding aperture in a flange of the second U-shaped portion. The high-security fasteners restrict access to the encapsulated wires, so as to deter wire theft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mt. Baker Cable, LLC
    Inventor: Dan R. Adams
  • Patent number: 8993885
    Abstract: A hardware retainer detachably mounted on faceplate and selectively locked to a fixed body behind the faceplate includes a tray, at least two brackets and a faceplate box. The brackets are detachably mounted on the tray. The faceplate box is detachably mounted on the faceplate and is formed with a plurality of wire passages. The tray is detachably mounted on the faceplate box allowing for objects of varying dimensions to be installed on the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nueteq Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hui-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 8993886
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hard-framed housing that provides a cover for electronic hardware components. According to one example, the housing may include a front cover portion that includes at least two spring loaded friction inducing side arms extending from a faceplate portion of the front cover portion at approximately a 90 degree angle. The housing may also include a rear cover portion that includes at least two receiving plates which provide a planar surface for the at least two spring loaded friction inducing side arms to rest when the front cover portion is engaged with the rear cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AMX LLC
    Inventor: Phong Le
  • Patent number: 8993887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a twisted pair cable and connector combination comprising a cable having a plurality of twisted pairs, each twisted pair comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, an electrical connector having an electrical connection element for each conductor of the cable and a window through which the conductors of the cable enter the connector, wherein each conductor in the cable is electrically coupled to a one of the electrical connection elements in the electrical connector, and a guide element disposed adjacent the window for guiding the twisted pairs into the connector, the guide element having a distal end and a proximal end and a length there between, the guide element curved over the length and including at least one channel running along the length of the guide element body for each twisted pair, the guide element gradually transitioning over the length from a first cross sectional shape wherein said channels are disposed in a pattern relative to each other corresponding to th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: L-COM, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Francis Parham, Jr., Zbigniew Woronko, David Andrew Gallagher
  • Patent number: 8993888
    Abstract: A toneable conduit including an elongate polymeric tube having a sidewall with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines a main channel. A sub-channel, smaller in cross sectional area than the main channel, extends longitudinally between the exterior and interior surfaces of the tube. A continuous toning signal wire is located within the sub-channel. The sub-channel has a larger cross sectional area than a cross sectional area of the toning signal wire and the toning signal wire follows a zigzagging or undulating path within the sub-channel. Alternatively, the sub-channel and toning signal wire have a substantially common cross sectional area and both follow a zigzagging or undulating path from one end of the toneable conduit to the other end. In both embodiments, a given length of toneable conduit will include a length of toning signal wire exceeding that given length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: John Chamberlain, Jason Morrow
  • Patent number: 8993889
    Abstract: An oil smelter cable has a plurality of conductor assemblies. Each conductor assembly includes a galvanized steel conductor, an insulation layer that surrounds the galvanized steel conductor, and a metal sheath that surrounds the insulation layer. An armor layer surrounds the plurality of conductor assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Cable Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Simon Barbera
  • Patent number: 8993890
    Abstract: An electric cable includes: a flat electric wire that is hard to bend in a longitudinal direction and easy to bend in a lateral direction; and a terminal that is coupled to a terminal end of the flat electric wire and connected to an inverter. The terminal has a wire connection portion coupled to the terminal end of the flat electric wire and a connecting portion connected to the inverter. The terminal is formed so that, when the terminal is connected to the inverter, a plane that includes a flat surface of the connecting portion is oriented in the direction in which the flat electric wire is easy to bend and intersects with the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Sumitomo Wiring Sytems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Sato, Sho Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8993891
    Abstract: A grommet assembly includes a liner, a grommet body, and a lid. The liner is configured to be secured within a hole in a deck surface. The grommet body is configured to move longitudinally within the liner between an extended position and a withdrawn position. The lid is attached to the grommet body in a pivoting configuration and is configured to secure a plug of an outdoor electrical cord fed through the liner from under the deck surface. The lid pivots between a closed position and an open position that permits access to the plug from above the deck surface when the grommet body is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Drane, Cong T. Dinh, Bobby N. Norwood
  • Patent number: 8993892
    Abstract: A wiring board includes: a substrate; first connection electrode portions which are disposed on a surface of the substrate and which are to be connected to individual-electrode connection terminals of an actuator via first bumps; first wires having electrical continuity with the first connection electrode portions; a second connecting electrode portion which is disposed on the surface of the substrate and which is to be connected to the a common-electrode connection terminal of the actuator via a second bump; and a second wire having electrical continuity with the second connection electrode portion. The second connecting electrode portion is located in an edge portion of the substrate. The second wire has a conducive-material absent portion that is located between an edge of the substrate and the second connecting electrode portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8993893
    Abstract: A multilayer substrate that retains a curved state without causing fluctuations in electrical characteristics includes a main body including a plurality of insulating sheets to be stacked and made of a flexible material. A signal wire extends in the main body. A ground conductor is provided at a positive-direction side in a z-axis direction relative to the signal wire in the main body, and overlaps the signal line in a plan view seen from the z-axis direction. A ground conductor is provided on a negative-direction side in the z-axis direction relative to the signal wire in the main body, and overlaps the signal line in a plan view seen from the z-axis direction. The state in which the main body is curved so that the signal wire defines an arc is retained by plastic deformation of the ground conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Kato, Jun Sasaki, Satoshi Ishino
  • Patent number: 8993894
    Abstract: A printed wiring board includes a core substrate having first and second surfaces, a first conductor formed on the first surface of the substrate, a second conductor formed on the second surface of the substrate, a first through-hole conductor formed through the substrate and connecting the first and second conductors, and a second through-hole conductor formed through the substrate and connecting the first and second conductors. The second through-hole conductor has a diameter which is greater than a diameter of the first through-hole conductor, the first through-hole conductor has a roughened inner wall forming an interior space, the second through-hole conductor has a roughened inner wall forming an interior space, and the roughened inner wall of the first through-hole conductor has an arithmetic average roughness which is set lower than an arithmetic average roughness of the roughened inner wall of the second through-hole conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kawai, Yoshinori Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8993895
    Abstract: The present invention is a membrane wiring board provided with an insulating substrate, and at least one circuit portion provided on the insulating substrate and obtained by coating a circuit layer, formed by an electrically conductive paste containing electrically conductive particles, with an insulating coating layer, wherein the circuit layer contains a resin component having a gel fraction of 90% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 8993896
    Abstract: A lead electrode and a preparation method thereof are provided. The lead electrode includes an inner terminal, a lead, and an outer terminal, which are sequentially connected. The lead includes: an insulating substrate; an adhesive material coated on the insulating substrate, the adhesive material defining a trenched mesh; and a conductive material filled in the trenched mesh, wherein an angle formed by a grid line of the trenched mesh and a demolding direction is from 0° to 90°. Since the angle formed by the grid line and the demolding direction is very small, little adhesive material will be attached to the mold, such that the residues of the adhesive material are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nanchang O-Film Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fei Zhou, Yulong Gao, Miaoqian Cao, Hongwei Kang
  • Patent number: 8993897
    Abstract: The photosensitive resin composition contains a (A) binder polymer, (B) cross-linked polymer particles, (C) thermosetting resin, (D) photo-polymerization initiator, and a (E) phosphoric flame retardant, in which a content of the (B) cross-linked polymer particles is 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight with respect to the 100 parts by weight of the (A) binder polymer, and an average particle diameter of the (B) cross-linked polymer particles is 1 ?m to 10 ?m. Therefore, the photosensitive resin composition (i) obtains an excellent tack-free property after being applied and dried, (ii) can be subjected to fine processing, (iii) is formed into a cured film having excellent flexibility, flame retardancy, and electrical insulation reliability, and (iv) causes a substrate to have a small warpage after being cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihide Sekito
  • Patent number: 8993898
    Abstract: A radio frequency shield which reversibly transects an electromagnetic frequency enclosure is provided. The shield includes first a number of panels attached to a first surface of the enclosure. The panels are adapted to move through a first arc relative to the first surface. Shield also includes a first panel from the number of panels having a first leading edge capable of transecting the first arc. The shield further includes a second number of panels attached to a second surface of the enclosure. The second set of panels is adapted to move through an arc relative to the second surface of the enclosure. Also a second panel from said second set of panels has a second leading edge capable of transecting the second arc so as to oppose the first leading edge. Finally, the shield includes a means for reversibly attaching the first leading edge to the second leading edge while simultaneously establishing electrical communication between the first and second plurality of panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ETS-Lindgren Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C Weibler, Thomas W Orzechowski, Steven T Kilgore, Michael G Hamouz
  • Patent number: 8993899
    Abstract: Various systems of an electronic deice and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. In some embodiments, a routing assembly is provided that may not only route a cable along a circuit board, but that may also shield and electronic component or secure an electronic component to the circuit board. In some other embodiments, there is provided a mechanism for electrically coupling two components of an electronic device that may also be visually appealing in the context of other portions of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shayan Malek, Benjamin J. Pope, Daniel W. Jarvis, Tang Yew Tan, Richard H. Dinh, Robert J. Steinfeld, Ramachandran Chundru
  • Patent number: 8993900
    Abstract: A solar cell module terminal to be electrically connected to an electrode portion provided on a back face of a solar cell module for outputting an electric current generated by a solar cell to the outside. The terminal includes a terminal body, a fixing portion to be fixed to the electrode portion, and a deforming portion provided between the terminal body and the fixing portion for allowing the terminal body and the fixing portion to be movable relative to each other along an anticipated direction of displacement of the electrode portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8993901
    Abstract: An inverter stack includes an inverter main body housing an inverter circuit inside, and a fan block disposed on the inverter main body through an engagement device and housing a plurality of fans. The engagement device includes a bolt member penetrating through a slot formed in the inverter main body, wherein a body portion of the bolt member is screwed into a nut fixed to a plate member, and having a stopper nut, and an engagement hole formed in the fan block, the engagement hole having an attachment hole portion and a clamping hole portion formed continuously. When the bolt member is tightened in which the body portion passes through the clamping hole portion, the fan block is engaged with the inverter main body, and when the bolt member is released, the fan block is pulled out to the front side to be disengaged from the inverter main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8993902
    Abstract: A method that makes provision for a volume of a batch of laundry to be ascertained in a water-removal press downstream of the washing machine. The volume of the batch of laundry can be reliably determined in a simple manner in the water-removal press, without the performance of the washing machine being adversely affected as a result. On the basis of the subsequently ascertained volume of the batch of laundry, the weight of the batches of laundry with which the washing machine is then to be loaded can be corrected such that the said batches of laundry and also subsequent batches of laundry have a volume which at least approximately corresponds to the receiving volume of the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Bringewatt, Engelbert Heinz
  • Patent number: 8993903
    Abstract: A sealed dual plunger switch assembly includes two switch sub-assemblies comprising plunger actuating mechanisms and basic switches. The sub-assemblies can be inserted into an overall enclosure using shims in order to position their operate points in the desired range relative to the enclosure's mounting surface. The enclosure is then sealed using a combination of covers, gaskets, o-rings, connectors and potting. The sub-assemblies individually and/or simultaneously receive actuation inputs within a fixed distance from the assembly's mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Skarlupka, Matthew J. Brose
  • Patent number: 8993904
    Abstract: An on-load tap changer is provided having a pair of bypass switches, each of which includes a plurality of contacts at least partially disposed in a contact carrier. The contacts are arranged in a stack and cooperate to form a groove and a mounting bore. A mounting post extends through the mounting bore such that the contacts are pivotable about the mounting post between an open and a closed position. When an actuation assembly moves the contacts to the open or closed position, the contacts move longitudinally relative to the contact carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Robert Alan Elick
  • Patent number: 8993905
    Abstract: A steering switch device mounted on a spoke portion of a steering wheel allows a first operating knob which can operate to press an operating surface upward obliquely of the front side to be adjacent to a second operating knob which can operate to tilt an operating surface approximately toward the rear of a vehicle. The first and second operating knobs are arranged such that the operating surface and the operating surface of each other are smoothly continuous due to the presence of a minute gap, and are continuous so as to form a surface following the surface entirely from an upper surface (surface opposing a driver) up to a lateral surface (front side surface when viewed from the driver) of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyasaka, Myonsu Kim
  • Patent number: 8993906
    Abstract: A vehicle switch includes a case having an opening, an operation body, a mounting plate, a cover, a switch contact, and a spacer. The operation body is accommodated in the case, has an operation portion protruding from the opening, and moves in the direction perpendicular to the opening. The mounting plate is mounted on the periphery of the opening of the case. The cover covers the operation body and the mounting plate. The switch contact is housed in the case, and performs electric contact according to movement of the operation body. The spacer is disposed on at least the periphery of the opening on a surface that faces the cover of the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Miyaoka
  • Patent number: 8993907
    Abstract: A miniaturized electro-mechanical switch includes a moveable portion having a contact configured to make, when the switch is actuated, an electrical connection between two stationary points. At least the contact is composed of a fully silicided material. A structure includes a silicon layer formed over an insulator layer and a micromechanical switch formed at least partially within the silicon layer. The micromechanical switch has a conductive structure, and where at least electrically contacting portions of the conductive structure are comprised of fully silicided material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Guillorn, Eric A. Joseph, Fei Liu, Zhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 8993908
    Abstract: A moving contact-carrying carriage (8) for an electrical cut-off device which comprises several seats (80) arranged for receiving several parallel moving contacts (5A-5C) offset in space, and each of them is associated with a return mechanism (65). The carriage can be coupled with an actuator mechanism (6) of the device. The carriage (8) comprises an insulating support (81) which has parallel seats (80) and a supporting structure (9), surrounding the insulating support (81), for forming a load-absorbing belt therearound. In order to couple the carriage (8) with the actuator mechanism, the supporting structure (9) comprises a connecting part (91) positioned in a front section of the insulating support (81) and passing through the central seat (80) and resting against the central moving contact (5A), on a side opposite to the return mechanism (65), for directly transmitting driving efforts of the actuator mechanism when opening the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Socomec S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Serpinet, Yves Trichard, Arnaud Marchal
  • Patent number: 8993909
    Abstract: A button structure is provided and includes a support bracket and a button. The support bracket has two opposite edges, a first concave portion, a second concave portion, and a position limiting protruding point. The first and second concave portions are respectively located at the two opposite edges, and the position limiting protruding point protrudes from the second concave portion. The button is located on the support bracket and includes a body portion, two neck portions and two stop portions. The two neck portions are located on two opposite ends of the body portion, and are respectively coupled to the first and second concave portions. The neck portion coupled to the second concave portion is positioned by the position limiting protruding point. The two stop portions are respectively connected to a side of the two neck portions facing away from the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Yuan-Jui Chang, Cheng-Hsin Chen, Shih-Jung Huang, Yao-Yu Lai
  • Patent number: 8993910
    Abstract: A pushbutton switch array is proposed which provides an illuminatable operating surface and manages with only few light sources without requiring any separate optical waveguide structures. The pushbutton switch array has a frame which is covered by a transparent film and includes recesses which have actuating elements accommodated therein for displacement. The actuating elements are configured to have light-guiding and light-coupling structures. A shared light source is, or only few shared light sources are, optically coupled to the light-coupling structures of the actuating elements which, for their part, are optically coupled to each other by adjoining light-coupling structures. The light-guiding structures guide the light coupled into the actuating elements to the actuating surface adjacent to the film. The actuating elements may be provided with symbols on their actuating surface adjoining the film, the symbols being visible through the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Koherr, Harald Koehnlein
  • Patent number: 8993911
    Abstract: When a lever driving section 43 that rotates integrally with a display 2 about a shaft 5a is pushed out by a concave portion 51, a switch operating section 44 on the other end side is rotated about a rotational central section 41 to turn off a switch 30. When the lever driving section 43 is drawn into a convex portion 53, the switch operating section 44 is rotated about the rotational central section 41 to turn on the switch 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hirota
  • Patent number: 8993912
    Abstract: A switching apparatus for an electrical switching device, the switching device including a rotor housing rotatable between an open position and a closed position; at least one contact arm with a moving contact; and a switching unit with a switching lever, movable between an ON position and an OFF position, a switching frame, and a lever mechanism in functional contact with the switching frame and the rotor housing such that movement of the switching lever into the ON position allows the rotor housing to be moved into the closed position and movement of the switching lever into the OFF position allows the rotor housing to be moved into the open position. The lever mechanism includes at least one stop, configured to prevent movement of the switching lever into the OFF position, independently of the movement of the rotor housing, when the rotor housing is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Pavel Naiman, Milos Petracek
  • Patent number: 8993913
    Abstract: A cover glass pressure button (CGPB) is disclosed for an electronic device that has an image display module which is protected by a cover glass. When the cover glass is pressed, the CGPB senses the pressure to output a corresponding physical parameter to a control circuit for triggering a function of the image display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Cement Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng Hou
  • Patent number: 8993914
    Abstract: A high-speed, high-resolution, triangulation-based, 3-D method and system for inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspected parts are provided. The method includes consecutively transferring the parts so that the parts move along a path which extends from a supply of parts and through an imaging station. A triangulation-based sensor head is supported at the imaging station. The sensor head is configured to generate focused lines of radiation and to sense corresponding reflected lines of radiation. The focused lines are delivered onto an end surface of each part to obtain a corresponding array of reflected lines of radiation. The sensor head senses the array of reflected lines to obtain a corresponding set of 2-D profile signals. The set of profile signals represent a 3-D view of the end surface. The set of 2-D profile signals of each part is processed to identify parts having an unacceptable defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GII Acquisition, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Andrew-Paul Kujacznski, Michael G. Nygaard
  • Patent number: 8993915
    Abstract: Provided is a sector gear including: a drive gear having a drive part that forms a part of a circle and has a plurality of teeth and a non-drive part that forms a remaining part of the circle and provides a non-contact angle of at least approximately 90 degrees; first and second movers forming a disconnector and a grounded breaking switch, respectively; and first and second driven gears engaged with the drive gear and respectively engaged with the first and second movers and configured to make the first mover or the second mover operate in conjunction with the drive part of the drive gear according to a direction of rotation of the drive gear, wherein an intermediate angle between the first and second movers is between approximately 90-135 degrees. The present invention can reduce the size of the gas-insulated switchgear having the sector gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Choon Kim
  • Patent number: 8993916
    Abstract: Equipment protection systems, arc containment devices, and methods of assembling arc containment devices are disclosed. In one example, an electrical isolation structure includes a conductor base, a cover coupled to the conductor base and defining an isolation chamber, a containment shield disposed on the conductor base within the isolation chamber, and a biasing assembly positioned between the cover and the containment shield. The containment shield defines a containment chamber configured to enclose the plurality of electrode assemblies. The containment shield is configured to at least partially contain the arc products within the containment chamber. The biasing assembly is configured to permit the containment shield to move away from the conductor base to thereby define a gap between the conductor base and the containment shield to enable at least some of the arc gases to vent from the containment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srinivas Naga Palvadi, Ravi Kumar, Chandrakanth Gopularam
  • Patent number: 8993917
    Abstract: A forming 7 die is filled with a powder (11) of electrode material, the powder (11) of electrode material filled in the forming die is compressed to form a porous powder compact (27), the porous powder compact (27) is set in place in a chamber (25) of a heat-treating furnace (23), the chamber (25) is supplied with inert gas or hydrogen gas, and inert gas or hydrogen gas is heated by heaters (39) in the heat-treating furnace (23) and blown toward the powder compact (27), as blows circulating in the chamber (25), whereby the powder compact is heated with heat of convection flows of inert gas or hydrogen gas, or mixed gas containing inert gas as principal component and hydrogen gas, so the electrode material of the powder compact is sintered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shiino, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Hiroki Yoshizawa, Issei Otera
  • Patent number: 8993918
    Abstract: When spot-welding a workpiece including a thin plate, a first thick plate, and a second thick plate, the workpiece is clamped by a fixed electrode in contact with the second thick plate, a movable electrode in contact with the thin plate, and control-pressure applying unit set adjacent to the movable electrode and in contact with the thin plate. Pressure is applied to the second thick plate by the fixed electrode, and pressure and control pressure are respectively applied by the movable electrode and the control-pressure applying unit to the thin plate. The pressure from the fixed electrode is controlled to be smaller than the pressure from the movable electrode. The current density between the thin plate and the first thick plate increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Sakai, Keigo Kimura
  • Patent number: 8993919
    Abstract: The present application discloses a laser source for emitting laser light onto a work-piece. The laser source includes a generator configured to generate the laser light, and an adjuster configured to adjust an output of the laser light. The adjuster situated between the generator and the work-piece reduces output density of the laser light on the work-piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kusukame, Shinichi Kadowaki, Hiroyuki Furuya, Kiminori Mizuuchi, Susumu Takagi
  • Patent number: 8993920
    Abstract: A steel strip is formed into a cylinder so that opposite ends of the steel strip face each other, while continuously conveying the steel strip. The opposite ends are melted across the entire thickness by irradiating the opposite ends with a high-energy-density beam while applying a pressure with squeeze rolls. A seam is formed by joining the opposite ends, and excess weld metal of the seam on the outer and inner sides of the obtained welded steel pipe is removed by cutting. A repaired seam is then formed by remelting and solidifying a region on the inner side of the welded steel pipe, the region having a depth of 0.5 mm or more from the surface and a width of double or more the width of the seam, and in addition, the center line of the seam is made to coincide with the center line of the repaired seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Yano, Kenji Oi
  • Patent number: 8993921
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to forming anodized films that have a white appearance. In some embodiments, an anodized film having pores with light diffusing pore walls created by varying the current density during an anodizing process is described. In some embodiments, an anodized film having light diffusing micro-cracks created by a laser cracking procedure is described. In some embodiments, a sputtered layer of light diffusing aluminum is provided below an anodized film. In some embodiments, light diffusing particles are infused within openings of an anodized layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lucy E. Browning, Stephen B. Lynch, Christopher D. Prest, Peter N. Russell-Clarke, Masashige Tatebe, Michael S. Nashner, Daniel T. McDonald, Brian S. Tryon, Jody R. Akana
  • Patent number: 8993922
    Abstract: A laser processing method which can efficiently perform laser processing while minimizing the deviation of the converging point of a laser beam is provided. This laser processing method comprises a displacement acquiring step (S07 to S11) of irradiating an object to be processed with a rangefinding laser beam for measuring a displacement of a main surface of the object while converging the laser beam with a lens and acquiring the displacement of the main surface along a line to cut while detecting reflected light reflected by the main surface in response to the irradiation; and moves the processing objective lens and the object relative to each other along the main surface, while adjusting the gap between the processing objective lens and the surface according to the displacement acquired by the displacement acquiring step, thereby forming the modified region along the line to cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Atsumi, Koji Kuno, Masayoshi Kusunoki, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8993923
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing an airfoil includes a laser beam and a first fluid column surrounding the laser beam to create a confined laser beam directed at the airfoil. A liquid flowing inside the airfoil disrupts the first fluid column inside the airfoil. A method for manufacturing an airfoil includes confining a laser beam inside a first fluid column to create a confined laser beam and directing the confined laser beam at a surface of the airfoil. The method further includes creating a hole through the surface of the airfoil with the confined laser beam, flowing a liquid inside the airfoil, and disrupting the first fluid column with the liquid flowing inside the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhaoli Hu, Douglas Anthony Serieno, Sharon Trombly Swede, Jane Marie Lipkin
  • Patent number: 8993924
    Abstract: There is provided a target object processing method capable of self-breaking a target object with a laser beam. The target object processing method includes: generating a laser beam from a laser beam source; correcting a divergence angle of the generated laser beam; and forming a spot by condensing the corrected laser beam to the inside of the target object. A shape or a size of the spot is adjusted by correcting the divergence angle of the laser beam, a phase transformation area is formed within the target object by the spot, and the target object is subject to self-breaking with the phase transformation area as the starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: QMC Co., Ltd., Beng So Ryu
    Inventors: Beng So Ryu, Byong Shik Lee, Hyeon Sam Jang, Bum Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 8993925
    Abstract: An arc welding method relates to consumable electrode arc welding in which a welding wire feeding rate suitable for a welding current is determined as an average feeding rate, and the short circuit state and the arc generation state are alternately generated by changing the wire feeding periodically and repeatedly between the forward feeding and the reverse feeding. The method offers arc welding with the average feeding rate according to a welding current, a predetermined frequency, and a predetermined velocity amplitude. In the method, at least any one of the frequency and the velocity amplitude is set to a value suitable for the welding current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Fujiwara, Yasushi Mukai, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Masaru Kowa
  • Patent number: 8993926
    Abstract: A method for arc welding can control the increase slopes of the short-circuit current and the inflection point of the increase slopes in the welding start period to be smaller than in the steady-state welding period. Thus, the increase slopes of the short-circuit current and the inflection point are made different between the welding start period and the steady-state welding period, thereby reducing sputtering in the welding start period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Fujiwara, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Akira Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8993927
    Abstract: A method and a system to increase heat input to a weld during an arc welding process. A series of electric arc pulses are generated between an advancing welding electrode and a metal workpiece using an electric arc welding system capable of generating an electric welding waveform to produce the electric arc pulses. A cycle of the electric welding waveform includes a pinch current phase providing an increasing pinch current level, a peak current phase providing a peak current level, a tail-out current phase providing a decreasing tail-out current level, and a background current phase providing a background current level. At least one heat-increasing current pulse of the cycle is generated, providing a heat-increasing current level, during the background current phase, where the heat-increasing current level is above the background current level. The cycle of the electric welding waveform with the at least one heat-increasing current pulse may be repeated until the arc welding process is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R Peters