Patents Issued in July 4, 2017
  • Patent number: 9698523
    Abstract: A fitting work for a connector (40) and a counterpart connector (70) can be performed smoothly. The connector (40) includes a housing body (42) from which an electrical wire (100) connected to a terminal metal fitting (30) extends out from a rear face thereof; and a guide (43) arranged at a rear side of the housing body (42) and configured by having the electrical wire (100) arranged within a through portion (52) passing through in a direction intersecting a front-rear direction, the electrical wire (100) extending out in both directions through both end openings of the through portion (52). The electrical wire (100) extending out in both directions is configured of the electrical wire (100) configuring a main line (10) of a wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Patent number: 9698524
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus, a system, and a method of manufacturer for a magnetic, self-retracting, auto-aligning electrical connector. The apparatus includes a first conductor and a first magnet configured to magnetically couple with a second magnet, wherein magnetic coupling causes a change in a magnetic field of a magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet and wherein the change in the magnetic field causes electrical coupling of the first conductor and a second conductor. The system includes a first connector comprising a first magnet and a first conductor and a second connector comprising a second magnet and a second conductor, wherein magnetic coupling causes a change in a magnetic field of a magnetically coupled combination of the first magnet and the second magnet and wherein the change in the magnetic field causes electrical coupling of the first conductor and the second conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Dale T. Morgan, Sean P. O'Donnell, Jeremy Zorrilla De Los Santos, Matthew Kielbasa
  • Patent number: 9698525
    Abstract: A plug connector is disclosed. The plug connector comprises a main housing with a cable connection end, an inner sleeve non-releasably arranged on the main housing, and an outer sleeve axially fitted over the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Jaeger, Markus Strelow, Christian Schrettlinger, Ulrich Buchmann
  • Patent number: 9698526
    Abstract: A connector with an aligning plate, includes plural male terminals, a connector housing that houses the male terminals therein and is formed so that a counterpart connector is inserted thereinto, an aligning plate that is provided so as to be movable in an insertion direction of the counterpart connector into the connector housing. The connector housing includes a pair of provisional locking arms which hold the aligning plate at a provisional locking position, and the aligning plate includes provisional locking portions which engage with the pair of provisional locking arms. The connector housing and the aligning plate are provided with plural recesses and plural projections which are mutually engageable and which restrict a warp of the aligning plate in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9698527
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes: an insulative housing defining a receiving room; an arrangement module assembled on a rear end of the insulative housing and defining a riveting slot on a rear end thereof; a number of contacts retained in the receiving room and exposing to a rear end of the arrangement; a metal case enclosing the insulative housing and the arrangement module and having a riveting arm riveted into the riveting slot to fix the metal case on the insulative housing; and a reinforcing member assembled in the arrangement module and disposed near the riveting slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ding-Cherng Chen
  • Patent number: 9698528
    Abstract: A connector includes a first housing (50) supported on a first supporting surface (32A) in an inverter-side terminal block (30) in a floating manner and a second housing (60) supported on a second supporting surface (34A) in the inverter-side terminal block (30) in a floating manner. A first terminal (52) in the first housing (50) mates with an inverter-side terminal (82) in a direction orthogonal to the first supporting surface (32A). A second terminal (62) in the second housing (60) mates with a motor-side terminal (92) in a motor-side terminal block (40) in a direction orthogonal to the second supporting surface (34A). A braided wire (70) has one end connected to the first terminal (52) and another end connected to the second terminal (62) and is arranged slidably in directions along the first supporting surface (32A) and along the second supporting surface (34A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Nishida, Junichi Mukuno
  • Patent number: 9698529
    Abstract: A cable holder includes a holder body and cable-holding portions that couple with one or more cables. The cable-holding portions hold portions of two or more cables in a predetermined spacing and arrangement with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Michael Schow, Peter George Ross
  • Patent number: 9698530
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having structures for fastening and protecting connectors includes a main body and at least one transmission member. The main body includes an assembling portion, at least one connecting port and at least one retaining groove. The assembling portion is formed at one edge on a sidewall of the main body and has an installing surface and a setting surface. The connecting port is disposed on the installing surface of the assembling portion. The retaining groove is formed on the setting surface of the assembling portion and corresponds in position to the connecting port. The transmission member includes an output connector and a retaining block. The output connector is detachably plugged in the connecting port of the main body. The retaining block protrudes from one side of the output connector and is capable of being engaged in the retaining groove of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: JET OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yung-Tse Chang
  • Patent number: 9698531
    Abstract: A USB lock for an electronic device may comprise an inner casing, an outer casing, a USB connector and a driving unit. The inner casing has a front opening to secure the USB connector thereon. A rear portion of the inner casing has a tube body, and a first through hole penetrating through the tube body is communicated with the front opening and configured to receive the driving unit with a lock rod and a key lock. The USB lock of the present invention is configured to engage with a USB port of a 3C product to achieve the anti-theft effect, which is easily to assembly, simplifies the structure, lowers manufacturing cost and prevents the 3C product from getting infected with a virus through an unsafe USB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INGAMAR CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Jason Su
  • Patent number: 9698532
    Abstract: A lockout frame arrangement for an electrical outlet box arrangement, comprising an electrical outlet box arranged for receipt of electrical outlets, a cover plate attachable to an open side of the electrical outlet box, for securement of electrical sockets therewithin, with a rectilinear outer cover capturing frame securely sandwiched between the cover plate and the open side of the electrical outlet box. An outer protective cover plate is matingly attached to and securable within a perimeter of the outer cover capturing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Albert E. Peckham
  • Patent number: 9698533
    Abstract: A composite connector comprises a housing, a position-limiting structure, a first type terminal, and a second type terminal. The housing is disposed on a system board, and a first oblique slot is disposed on one sidewall of the housing. The position-limiting structure is movably disposed in the housing, and the position-limiting structure and the sidewall of the housing have one of and the other of a first moving structure and the first oblique slot, respectively. The first type terminal and the second type terminal are disposed at different depths of the housing. Thereby, the space utilization of the system board is enhanced, the advantage of reducing the volume of the electronic product is achieved, and the switching operation can be more stable and less easy to fail when the connecting interfaces are switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jung-Jui Wang, Chia-Kai Weng, Li-O Lee, Wang-Jun He
  • Patent number: 9698534
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a front wire terminal and a rear wire terminal. The front wire terminal and the rear wire terminal are configured to couple to a conductor of a cable. A front signal trace is coupled to the front wire terminal. A rear signal trace is coupled to the rear wire terminal. The front signal trace is positioned adjacent to the rear signal trace. A front mating contact is coupled to the front signal trace. A rear mating contact is coupled to the rear signal trace. The front signal trace conveys an electrical signal between the front wire terminal and the front mating contact. The rear signal trace conveys an electrical signal between the rear wire terminal and the rear mating contact. An electro-mechanical compensation is positioned between the front signal trace and the rear signal trace to control crosstalk between the front signal trace and the rear signal trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Steven Richard Bopp, Ralph Sykes Martin, Paul John Pepe
  • Patent number: 9698535
    Abstract: Connector inserts and receptacles that provide signal paths having desired impedance characteristics. One example may provide a connector system having a connector insert and a connector receptacle. Contacts in the connector insert may form signal paths with corresponding contacts in the connector receptacle. Additional traces in the connector insert and receptacle may be part of these signal paths. The signal paths may have a target or a desired impedance along their lengths such that the power paths electrically appear as transmission lines. Constraints on physical dimensions of the connector insert and connector receptacle contacts may result in variations in impedance along the signal paths. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide structures to reduce these variations, to compensate for these variations, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: William Cornelius, Mahmoud R. Amini, Zheng Gao
  • Patent number: 9698536
    Abstract: A receptacle connector mounted to the printed circuit board, includes an insulative housing defining a mating tongue and a metallic shell enclosing the housing to form a mating cavity in which said mating tongue forwardly extends. A complementary plug connector includes a shell with a bull-nose tip. A metallic piece is mounted around a root of the mating tongue and equipped with a plurality of spring tangs to contact the relatively rigid bull-nose tip of the shell of the complementary connector for EMI/RFI protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Stephen Sedio, Chih-Pi Cheng, Yuan Zhang, De-Cheng Zou, An-Jen Yang
  • Patent number: 9698537
    Abstract: A mating connector, that includes a mating ground portion, includes a holding member, a contact, a shell and a ground member. The holding member is formed of an insulating body defining a connection space, the contact has a contact point which is held by the holding member to be positioned in the connection space, the shell covers, at least in part, the holding member in a plane perpendicular to a front-rear direction, and the ground member is electrically connected with the shell and has a base portion positioned between the holding member and the shell. A ground spring extends from the base portion and a ground contact point to be connected to the mating ground portion, and has first, second and third springs. The third spring is inward of the second spring, and supports the ground contact point to project into the connection space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yohei Yokoyama, Masaaki Takaku, Kouhei Ueda, Tatsuya Shioda, Yoshio Minegishi
  • Patent number: 9698538
    Abstract: Ribbon assembly includes first and second contact modules that each include signal and ground contacts that are configured to engage electrical contacts of a corresponding mating connector. The ribbon assembly also including a plurality of cables that are coupled to and extend between the first and second contact modules. The cables electrically couple the signal and ground contacts of the first contact module to the signal and ground contacts, respectively, of the second contact module. The cables extend parallel to one another and are coplanar at the first contact module and at the second contact module. The ribbon assembly also includes a cable organizer that is coupled to the plurality of cables at a location between and separate from the first and second contact modules. The cables extend parallel to one another and are coplanar as the cables extend through the cable organizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joshua Tyler Sechrist
  • Patent number: 9698539
    Abstract: To be able to further reduce deterioration in signal quality, there is provided a connector including: a signal pin (11) that is connected to a wiring pattern (15) on a mounted substrate (14) and that transmits a signal to an inside and an outside of any apparatus, the mounted substrate (14) having an end disposed in the apparatus; and a shell (13) that is formed of an electric conductor and grounded to ground potential on the mounted substrate (14), in a manner that the shell (13) covers the signal pin (11) in a region in which the signal pin (11) stretches toward the mounted substrate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Toba, Akira Matsuda, Taichi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9698540
    Abstract: A cable connector assembly includes: a printed circuit board (PCB) having a front end, a rear end, and an intermediate portion; a cable electrically connected to the rear end of the PCB; an inner metal member disposed about the intermediate portion of the PCB; an insulating member holding the inner metal member in position relative to the PCB; a metallic shield disposed around the insulating member; a front metal casing engaging the metallic shield; a rear metal casing surrounding a front of the cable and engaging the front metal casing; and an outer over-mold surrounding the front and rear metal casings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Da-Wei Xing, Jun Chen, Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 9698541
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle connector includes a metallic shell, an insulated housing, a plurality of first receptacle terminals, a plurality of second receptacle terminals, and a rear cover plate. The insulated housing is received in the receiving cavity. The first receptacle terminals and the second receptacle terminals are respectively disposed at an upper portion and a lower portion of the insulated housing. The rear cover plate includes a baffle plate and a connecting portion formed at one of two sides of the baffle plate and connected to the rear of the metallic shell. The rear cover plate is closeable and openable, so that the soldering condition between the first receptacle terminals and contacts of a circuit board can be checked when the rear cover plate is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ADVANCED-CONNECTEK INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Lun Tsai, Pin-Yuan Hou, Chung-Fu Liao, Ya-Fen Kao, Rui Su, Long-Fei Chen
  • Patent number: 9698542
    Abstract: An assembly and method of plural conductive slots sharing an overheating destructive fixing element is disclosed, including a first conductive element, a second conductive element and an overheating destructive fixing element. The first conductive element includes a front end, a rear end, plural conductive slots, a connection portion and a contact portion. The conductive slots include a front end conductive slot and a rear end conductive slot, between which a control section is defined. The connection portion is disposed on the control section, and the contact portion connects the connection portion. The second conductive element contacts the contact portion by the overheating destructive fixing element, allowing the plural conductive slots to share the overheating destructive fixing element. Furthermore, when any one conductive slot reaches each own limiting working temperature respectively, the overheating destructive fixing element is destructed by reaching a pre-determined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GREEN IDEA TECH INC.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Yun I
  • Patent number: 9698543
    Abstract: A fuse-equipped connector (1) is configured in combination of a first connector (10) and a second connector (30) which can be assembled to each other in an attachable and detachable state. The first connector (10) includes a first terminal (13) electrically connected to an external apparatus (50) and a connection portion (12a) mechanically connectable to the external apparatus (50). The second connector (30) includes a second terminal (33) electrically connected to the first terminal (13) and a fuse (35) being electrically connected to the second terminal (33). In a state where the first connector (10) and the second connector (30) are assembled with each other, the first terminal (13) and the second terminal (33) are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Kato, Seizi Adachi
  • Patent number: 9698544
    Abstract: A plug connector assembly (1) adapted to plug into a receptacle in two reversed directions, includes a mating member (10), a cable (30) electrically connected with the mating member, and an outer shell (50) including a main body (51), and a strain relief member (52) disposed at a rear end of the main body and enclosing the cable. The main body includes a front portion (510) enclosing a rear end (102) of the mating member, and a rear portion (511) opposite to the front portion and connected with the strain relief member. A thickness of the front portion is smaller than a thickness of the rear portion measured along a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jerry Wu, Jun Chen, Fan-Bo Meng
  • Patent number: 9698545
    Abstract: A machine case includes a sink-like main portion and opposite deck stations by two ends of said main portion, and a terminal module. Said terminal module includes an insulator defining opposite top and bottom surfaces and a set of contacts retained to the insulator via a first insert molding process and arranged along a transverse direction. Each of said contacts is stamped and bent from sheet metal and unitarily formed with an upper contacting section and a lower contacting section. One of said upper contacting section and said lower contacting section defines an exposed end for originally linking to a contact carrier. The insulator forms a set of recesses originally formed between the contacting sections of neighboring contacts during the first insert molding while successively filled with material by the corresponding deck station in which said terminal module is embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Chun-Yi Chang
  • Patent number: 9698546
    Abstract: A blind-mate connector (10, 20, 100) has a barrel (11, 21, 105), a base (12, 22, 110) at the back end of the barrel, an insulator (17, 27) mounted in the base, and a center conductor (15, 25) extending from near the front end of the barrel, through the insulator, and extending beyond the back end of the base, with the center conductor being held by the insulator. One type has sidewalls (13, 23) extending rearwardly from the back end of the base, and alignment notches (14, 24) on the sidewalls, the alignment notches extending only partially from the back ends of the sidewalls toward the base. Another type has alignment tabs (125) extending rearwardly from the back end, and sidewalls (130) extending rearwardly from the back end of the base, the first tab being above the first sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Genesis Technology USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl Anthony Daughtry
  • Patent number: 9698547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a communication jack for connecting to one of a first plug and a second plug. The jack includes a housing, plug interface contacts, and coupling circuitry. The plug interface contacts are at least partially within said housing and include a plurality of contact pairs having at least a first contact pair and a second contact pair. The coupling circuitry is configured for engaging said first contact pair and said second contact pair when said first plug is inserted into said housing. The coupling circuitry is configured for disengaging from said first contact pair and said second contact pair when said second plug is inserted into said housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Masud Bolouri-Saransar, Surendra Chitti Babu, Paul W. Wachtel, Ronald A. Nordin
  • Patent number: 9698548
    Abstract: A splice connector for a busway system utilizes individual connectors made of a conductive material and having a u-shaped cross-section that fit over ends of a pair of busbars to be connected to each other, and within which are mounted multi-contact louvers that extend the length of the connectors to establish a low impedance electrical connection between the connector and the respective busbars. The louvers are secured in place by a dovetail groove that retains the louvers within the connectors and causes the individual contact sections of the louvers to bow outwardly so as to press against the busbars when the connector is fitted over the busbars. The connectors are snapped into insulative housing halves or sections that align the connectors with the busbars, and that provide isolation between horizontally aligned pairs of connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Power Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario L. Jaena, Vladimir Gulkarov, Isaac Folk
  • Patent number: 9698549
    Abstract: An arrangement of connector ports for an electronic device, specifically for a weighing platform unit (1), includes a plurality of connector sockets (22, 23, 25, 26) which are installed in one or more walls of a chassis (4) thereof. The one or more walls that carry the connector sockets are interior partitioning walls that define a connector port compartment (20) inside the chassis. Furthermore, at least one wall section of the connector port compartment is an exterior wall section of the chassis and contains a passage opening (21). Electrical cables (30) that are terminated by plugs matching the connector sockets can be introduced into the connector port compartment through this passage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: METTLER-TOLEDO (ALBSTADT) GMBH
    Inventors: Edgar Kempf, Xinwei Su, Dieter Kontschak, Walter Holike
  • Patent number: 9698550
    Abstract: An electrical power outlet housing assembly is provided for mounting electrical and/or data outlets in a work area or the like. The housing assembly includes at least one outlet housing portion having an interior surface that is configured to support the electrical components of an electrical and/or data outlet. The outlet housing portion cooperates with a housing enclosure portion by filling an opening of the housing enclosure, where the housing enclosure and outlet housing portions cooperate with a housing base to define an interior cavity that receives the electrical or electronic components associated with the electrical or data outlets. The electrical components may be installed without any separate mechanical fasteners, and the housing components may be assembled with minimal use of separate fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrne, Robert L. Knapp, Steven K. Meek, Matthew R. Andree
  • Patent number: 9698551
    Abstract: A mount for a portable electronic device is disclosed comprising: a support member arranged to engage against a surface of a device mounted thereto, the support member comprising a power connector having one or more electrical contacts to deliver electrical power to the device. The mount further comprises a first ring member coupled to the support member and a second ring member configured for attachment to a surface. The first ring member is configured to be rotatable relative to the second ring member, and the surface of the first ring member is provided adjacent to the surface of the second ring member. The first and second ring members also provide an aperture to enable an electronic connection to pass through the aperture to the power connector of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventors: Nicholas Alexander Evans, Mark Lee Dempsey, Reinier Tijssen, Daniel Browning
  • Patent number: 9698552
    Abstract: A plurality of connector (40) is configured to be maintained in a state of being aligned in an aligned direction. The connectors (40) each include a housing (41) that may be angularly displaced about an axis parallel to a fitting direction with a counterpart housing (71). A plurality of the housings (41) are aligned in a direction intersecting the fitting direction and an angular displacement direction, and each has a through portion (52) through which electrical wires (100) for aligning the housings (41) in the aligned direction penetrates. A relieving portion (90) having a shape retracting in a direction for avoiding interference with the electrical wires (100) when the housings (41) are angularly displaced is provided on an inner face of each through portion (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Patent number: 9698553
    Abstract: A crimping die includes a first die for constraining the wire crimping portion by a concave die surface shaped in conformity with the wire crimping portion, and a second die including a convex die surface paired with the concave die surface. A width of a recess on the concave die surface and that of a projection on the convex die surface are equal to an outer diameter of the wire crimping portion. The wire crimping portion is pressed by the concave die surface of the first die and the convex die surface of the second die, whereby the wire crimping portion and the wire inserted into the cylindrical interior of the wire crimping portion are crimped and fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sugimoto, Kazuo Toita
  • Patent number: 9698554
    Abstract: A female terminal includes a box portion which is formed into a quadrangular prism-like shape so as for a tab of a male terminal to fit therein by bending a copper alloy plate which is obtained by being continuously and repeatedly bent before an age heat treatment is applied thereto, which has a proof stress of 700 MPa or larger and a width of 10 mm or larger and in which no crack is produced therein when bent 180 degrees about a bending axis which is at right angle to a rolling direction of the copper alloy plate. The box portion comprises notches which are formed in inner sides of bent portions produced by bending the copper alloy plate. A depth of the notch is set to be in the range from ¼ to ½ of a thickness of the copper alloy plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: DOWA METALTECH CO., LTD., YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Kubodera, Hisashi Suda
  • Patent number: 9698555
    Abstract: The invention relates to sources of sub-picosecond optical pulses based on single-pass or double-pass optical amplifiers with an optical gain bandwidth in the 2-20 nm range. A passive pulse shaping filter is provided in front of the optical amplifier for pre-shaping seed optical pulses so as to passively pre-compensate for the gain narrowing effect in the optical amplifier. The passive pulse shaping filter may be based on a reflective thin film filter, which may be coupled to a mirror in a multi-pass configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Lumentum Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Bojan Resan
  • Patent number: 9698556
    Abstract: Plural signal beams enter a planar waveguide laser amplifier from different directions to follow different paths therein, which reduces a region not contributing to amplification where no signal beam passes. Plural signal beams follow different paths in the planar waveguide, and a second signal beam utilizes the gain of a portion of the planar waveguide that a first signal beam cannot utilize. By this configuration, a region not contributing to amplification of the signal beams in the planar waveguide laser amplifier can be reduced, causing to efficiently amplify plural signal beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Takasaki, Yojiro Watanabe, Takeshi Sakimura, Takayuki Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 9698557
    Abstract: An optical fiber for amplification includes a core having an inner core and an outer core surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the inner core. The relative refractive index difference of the inner core to a cladding is smaller than the relative refractive index difference of the outer core to the cladding. The outer core is entirely doped with erbium. The theoretical cutoff wavelength of an LP11 mode light beam is a wavelength of 1,565 nm or more. The theoretical cutoff wavelength of an LP21 mode light beam is a wavelength of 1,530 nm or less. The theoretical cutoff wavelength of the LP02 mode light beam is a wavelength of 980 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: FUJIKURA LTD., NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION, OSAKA PREFECTURE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsukasa Hosokawa, Kentaro Ichii, Katsuhiro Takenaga, Shoichiro Matsuo, Hirotaka Ono, Makoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 9698558
    Abstract: A method of pumping an optical resonator includes directing light generated by a pumping light at the optical resonator, exciting a propagating surface state of the optical resonator at an interface of the optical resonator, and changing a propagating frequency of the light proximate the interface, where the changed frequency corresponds to a propagation frequency of the surface state. The optical resonator includes a photonic crystal and a material, where the interface is formed between the photonic crystal and the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan Kundtz, Ruopeng Liu, Bruce M. McWilliams, John B. Pendry, Daniel A. Roberts, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9698559
    Abstract: The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated, including highly integrated configurations. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. The oscillators are configured to operate at slightly different repetition rates, such that a difference ?fr in repetition rates is small compared to the values fr1 and fr2 of the repetition rates of the oscillators. The CDSL system also includes a non-linear frequency conversion section optically connected to each oscillator. The section includes a non-linear optical element generating a frequency converted spectral output having a spectral bandwidth and a frequency comb comprising harmonics of the oscillator repetition rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Martin E. Fermann, Ingmar Hartl
  • Patent number: 9698560
    Abstract: A laser ignition system, in particular for an internal combustion engine, including a vertical emitter and a laser-active crystal, the laser-active crystal being doped in at least some areas using ytterbium, the ytterbium-doped area having a length of 200 ?m to 7000 ?m. The monolithic laser is based on a YAG or LuAG host crystal having 3 differently doped areas: a laser-active ytterbium-doped area, an undoped area which determines the resonator length and therefore the pulse duration, and a chromium-doped or vanadium-doped area for the passive Q-switch. The resonator is delimited by 2 mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Heiko Ridderbusch
  • Patent number: 9698561
    Abstract: The temperature tuned conjugated polymer laser uses a thiophene-based conjugated polymer as the laser medium to produce an output laser beam having a wavelength tunable between approximately 552 nm and approximately 612 nm over a temperature range of the thiophene-based conjugated polymer between approximately 60° C. and approximately 10° C., with an overall tunability of about 1.2 nm/° C. The thiophene-based conjugated polymer laser medium is a solution of poly[3-(2-ethyl-isocyanato-octadecanyl)-thiophene] dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF). A temperature controller selectively and controllably adjusts the temperature of the thiophene-based conjugated polymer to selectively and controllably tune the wavelength of the output laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Saradh Prasad Rajendra, Mohamad Saleh Alsalhi, Vadivel Masilamani
  • Patent number: 9698562
    Abstract: In a laser device, a different refractive index region 6B of a photonic crystal layer is arranged at a lattice point position of a square lattice. In the case where a plane shape of the different refractive index regions 6B is a nearly isosceles right triangle, two sides forming a right angle extend along longitudinal and horizontal lateral lines of the square lattice. A direction parallel to or vertical to an oblique side of the triangle and a direction of polarization in the periodic polarization inversion structure of a nonlinear optical crystal NL are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: Kyoto University, HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Watanabe, Kazuyoshi Hirose, Yoshitaka Kurosaka, Takahiro Sugiyama, Susumu Noda
  • Patent number: 9698563
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible light emitting semiconductor device, such as an LED device, that includes a flexible dielectric layer having first and second major surfaces with a conductive layer on the first major surface and at least one cavity in the first major surface with a conductive layer in the cavity that supports a light emitting semiconductor device. The conductive layer in the cavity is electrically isolated from the second major surface of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravi Palaniswamy, Arokiaraj Jesudoss, Alejandro Aldrin Il Agcaoili Narag, James R. White, Fong Liang Tan, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Justine A. Mooney, Nathan P. Kreutter, Qihong Nie, Jian Xia Gao
  • Patent number: 9698564
    Abstract: A multi-chip module (MCM) includes: an interposer, a photonic chip, an optical gain chip, and a waveguide-fiber connector. The photonic chip, which may be electrically coupled to the interposer, may be implemented using a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, and may include an optical waveguide that conveys an optical signal. Moreover, the optical gain chip, which may be electrically coupled to the interposer, may include a III-V compound semiconductor, and may include a second optical waveguide that conveys the optical signal and that is vertically aligned with the optical waveguide relative to a top surface of the interposer. Furthermore, the waveguide-fiber connector may be mechanically coupled to the interposer, and remateably mechanically coupled to an optical fiber coupler that includes the optical fiber. The waveguide-fiber connector may convey the optical signal between the optical waveguide in the photonic chip and the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ivan Shubin, Xuezhe Zheng, Jin-Hyoung Lee, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 9698565
    Abstract: A diode control device include a first terminal for receiving a first power supply voltage and a second terminal for receiving a second power supply voltage. A circuit of the diode control device applies a regulated voltage on the anode of the diode in response to a control voltage. The control voltage is equal to a preset voltage when a reference voltage is less than or equal to zero. Conversely, when the reference voltage is greater than zero, the control voltage is equal to the sum of the present voltage and a difference between cathode voltage of the diode and the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS
    Inventor: Patrik Arno
  • Patent number: 9698566
    Abstract: An optical module includes: a semiconductor laser emitting laser light; an optical device having a butt joint interface; an optical amplifier amplifying the laser light passed through the optical device; an equivalent resonator length adjustor inserted between the optical amplifier and the optical device; a wavelength spectrum measuring device measuring a wavelength of light output from the optical amplifier; and a refractive index adjustment circuit controlling a current applied to the equivalent resonator length adjustor based on a result of measurement performed by the wavelength spectrum measuring device to adjust a refractive index of the equivalent resonator length adjustor. Parasitic oscillation light in a plurality of Fabry-Perot modes is generated as the butt joint interface is one of reflection ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Takagi
  • Patent number: 9698567
    Abstract: A wavelength-selectable laser device providing spatially-selectable wavelength(s) may be used to select one or more wavelengths for lasing in a tunable transmitter or transceiver, for example, in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical system such as a WDM passive optical network (PON). The wavelength-selectable laser device uses a dispersive optical element, such as a diffraction grating, to disperse light emitted from a laser emitter and to direct different wavelengths of the light toward a reflector at different spatial positions such that the wavelengths may be selected by allowing light to be reflected from selected spatial position(s) back into the laser emitter. Thus, the reflected light with a wavelength at the selected spatial position(s) is allowed to complete the laser cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Zheng, Stefan J. Murry, Bujin Guo
  • Patent number: 9698568
    Abstract: A cathode electrode, cathode pad electrodes, cathode wiring electrodes, an anode electrode, an anode pad electrode, and an anode wiring electrode are disposed on the surface of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser device. A light-emitting-region multilayer portion having active layers sandwiched by clad layers and DBR layers is formed directly below the anode electrode. A region where the light-emitting-region multilayer portion is formed serves as a light-emitting region. The light-emitting region is positioned closer to one end of the first direction than is a suction region onto which a flat collet sucks with respect to the first direction, in such a way that the light-emitting region is substantially in contact with or spaced a predetermined distance from the suction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Iwata, Ippei Matsubara, Takayuki Kona, Hiroshi Watanabe, Masashi Yanagase
  • Patent number: 9698569
    Abstract: To improve characteristics of a semiconductor device (semiconductor laser), an active layer waveguide (AWG) comprised of InP is formed over an exposed part of a surface of a substrate having an off angle ranging from 0.5° to 1.0° in a [1-1-1] direction from a (100) plane to extend in the [0-1-1] direction. A cover layer comprised of p-type InP is formed over the AWG with a V/III ratio of 2000 or more. Thereby, it is possible to obtain excellent multiple quantum wells (MQWs) by reducing a film thickness variation of the AWG. Moreover, the cover layer having side faces where a (0-11) plane almost perpendicular to a substrate surface mainly appears can be formed. A sectional shape of a lamination part of the cover layer and the AWG becomes an approximately rectangular shape. Therefore, an electrification region can be enlarged and it is possible to reduce a resistance of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Ae, Shoutarou Kitamura, Tetsuro Okuda, Suguru Kato, Isao Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9698570
    Abstract: A quantum dot laser includes a GaAs substrate, a quantum dot active layer which has a barrier layer of GaAs and quantum dots, a GaAs waveguide core layer which is joined to the quantum dot active layer, and a lower cladding layer and an upper cladding layer which sandwich the quantum dot active layer and the GaAs waveguide core layer. The GaAs waveguide core layer extends from a front end of the quantum dot active layer and has a thickness which gradually decreases in a direction to depart from the front end of the quantum dot active layer, a refractive index of a first cladding layer is higher than a refractive index of a second cladding layer. With this structure, expansion of the optical mode diameter that is more than necessary is inhibited to prevent leakage of light, thereby obtaining sufficient optical output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazumasa Takabayashi, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Tokuharu Kimura
  • Patent number: 9698571
    Abstract: An improved triggered arc flash arrester includes a shield apparatus disposed within an interior of an evacuated envelope and includes a first shield element and a second shield element. A plurality of conductors are partially disposed within the interior and are separated from one another by a gap. A first element of the shield apparatus is situated adjacent the envelope and is structured to protect the envelope from damage due to the high temperature plasma that results from an arc across the gap. A second element of the shield apparatus is interposed between the gap and at least a portion of the first element and is structured to protect the at least portion of the first element from damage due to an arc across the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Joseph Shea, Ganesh K. Balasubramanian, Paul J. Rollmann, Robert Kirkland Smith
  • Patent number: 9698572
    Abstract: A spark plug RFI suppression arrangement comprises a spark plug having a proximal end at which an ignition terminal is located and a distal end at which a pair of electrodes are separated by a spark gap. The spark plug further has an insulator portion and a conductive case located intermediate the proximal and distal ends. The arrangement further has an ignition wire having an end portion carrying a connector removably attached to the ignition terminal of the spark plug. A spark plug boot is located at the end portion of the ignition wire, the boot being configured to cover the connector and at least a portion of the spark plug. A radio frequency interference (RFI) suppression sleeve is connected to the spark plug boot and is in electrical communication with the conductive case of the spark plug such that interference produced by operation of the spark plug is suppressed by grounding through the conductive case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Fenix Manufacturing Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: David Warren Canestrari, Rickey Shon Burchett