Leaf Spring Support Patents (Class 200/283)
  • Patent number: 11950887
    Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure describe a blood pressure measurement apparatus and method that enable continuous, non-invasive blood pressure measurement using sound and ultrasound transducers. In one implementation, a blood pressure measurement device includes: a first transducer configured to emit multiple soundwaves having multiple frequencies, the soundwaves configured to cause a blood vessel of a subject to vibrate; a second transducer configured to capture one or more ultrasound images of the blood vessel; and a processing device configured to: determine, based on the one or more ultrasound images, a wall thickness, a radius, and a resonant frequency of the blood vessel; and calculate, based on the wall thickness, the radius, and the resonant frequency, a blood pressure of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aditya Rajagopal, Dominic Yurk, Yaser Abu-Mostafa, Alaina Ann Brinley Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 11887797
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a coil assembly, an armature rotatable about an axis of rotation and driven by the coil assembly, and a contact assembly having a contact spring directly connected to the armature. The contact spring is a spring pack including a plurality of springs. At least one of the springs of the spring pack is formed of a first material and at least another one of the springs of the spring pack is formed of a second material different from the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Kramer, Matthias Kroeker, Katrin Schertler, Thomas Haehnel
  • Patent number: 11676779
    Abstract: What is presented is a key module for a keyboard. The key module comprises a key tappet. The key module also comprises a module housing. The module housing is formed to movably accommodate the key tappet, in order to enable a translational actuation movement of the key tappet between a rest position and in an actuated position relative to the module housing. The key module further comprises a trigger element for triggering an actuation signal of the key module in response to the actuation movement. The trigger element is attached to the key tappet. The trigger element is a contactor for electrically shorting contact pads of a circuit substrate of the keyboard. The trigger element comprises more than two elastically deformable contact fingers for contacting the contact pads after different pre-travel paths in the course of the actuation movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: CHERRY GMBH
    Inventor: Eduard Ruff
  • Patent number: 10180049
    Abstract: A high pressure switch for controlling electrical signals between elements of a gun for perforating hydrocarbon wells. The switch uses mechanical energy from an explosion to change from one electrical path to a second electrical path. The switch has a piston that translates from the shockwave to electrical connect a firing pin to a conductive member while opening an electrical path from the piston to the firing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Daniel S. Trafton
  • Patent number: 10163588
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a base, a fixed contact terminal including a fixed contact, and fixed to the base, a movable contact terminal including a movable contact that contacts the fixed contact, an electromagnet that generates a magnetic field when an electric current flows through a coil wrapped around an iron core, an armature connected to the movable contact terminal, and moved by a magnetic force generated in the electromagnet, a yoke including a vertical part, and a horizontal part connected to the iron core, and a bottom plate formed of an insulator, and covering a surface of the horizontal part facing away from the iron core. The bottom plate includes a yoke insertion part into which the horizontal part is inserted in a direction parallel to the horizontal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuo Kubono, Yoichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9882331
    Abstract: A slipring brush includes a body of a metal wire or metal band having a contact area for contacting a slipring module. The contact area is selectively coated by a contact material like gold or silver or an alloy thereof. The body preferably includes Copper, Nickel, Iron, or an alloy thereof. Coating may be done by electroplating, physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLEIFRING AND APPARATEBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Max Winkler, Christian Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 9837776
    Abstract: In an electric motor, a brush holder stay (33) has an opening section through which a commutator (23) is able to be inserted in a rotary shaft direction (O1), brush holders (41) extend in the rotary shaft direction (O1) and are formed in a flat spring shape biased toward the inside in a radial direction, base end sections of the brush holders (41) are supported by the brush holder stay (33) at intervals in a circumferential direction around the rotary shaft (3), and brushes (31) are held by the front end sections of the brush holders (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Teppei Tokizaki, Yoshichika Kawashima, Natsumi Tamura
  • Patent number: 9672997
    Abstract: A method for control device adjustment comprising applying a preload simultaneously to a plurality of shafts of a control device so as to take up initial assembly play, wherein the control device comprises an upper actuating element that is movable relative to a lower supporting mounting, a lower supporting mounting, a switch that is actuated by the upper actuating element, and an articulated structure that is interposed vertically between the upper actuating element and the lower mounting to keep the upper actuating element parallel to a horizontal plane during its vertical downward movement relative to a frame, and the at least one shaft. The method also comprises providing an adjustment stop fixed relative to the lower mounting and forming a stop surface that interacts with a facing portion of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: C&K Components S.A.S.
    Inventor: Jean-Christophe Villain
  • Patent number: 9608384
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, a cage and a switch unit. The housing has a base and a side wall connected to a side edge of the base. The cage and the housing together define a slot, and an entrance of the slot is on an end face. The switch unit is provided to the side wall. The side wall further has a mounting space that can receive the switch unit and a through-hole extending from the end face of the side wall into the mounting space along the card insertion direction so that a pin-like element can be inserted into the through-hole to enable the switch unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventor: Foong-Ching Soo
  • Patent number: 9343247
    Abstract: A keyswitch includes a casing having a first magnetic area, a key cap, and a support device including first and second support members rotatably connected to the key cap and the base plate. The first support member has a receiving opening and a second magnetic area disposed within the receiving opening. When the key cap is not pressed, a magnetic attraction force between the first and second magnetic areas keeps the key cap at a non-pressed position. When the key cap is pressed by an external force, the key cap moves with the support device toward a pressed position. When the external force is removed, the second magnetic area moves toward the first magnetic area due to the magnetic attraction force such that the key cap moves with the support device from the pressed position toward the non-pressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Chien-Shih Hsu
  • Patent number: 8981247
    Abstract: A rear operation body is attached on a rear portion of a front case via a pair of front supporting plate springs. A front operation body is provided in a frontward of the front case and the front operation body and the rear operation body are connected via a penetration portion. A rear case is provided in a rearward of the front case, and a rear supporting plate spring is provided in the rear case. A flexible print substrate is provided in a frontward thereof and a plurality of detection members are mounted on the flexible print substrate. When an operation surface of the front operation body is pressed, the front supporting plate springs are deformed. Thereby, the rear operation body is moved such that any of the plurality of detection members is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Sano
  • Publication number: 20150008107
    Abstract: A switch device includes a terminal and a leaf spring supported by the terminal. The leaf spring is resiliently movable to produce a contact action. The leaf spring includes a metal plating applied to a portion that is in contact with and supported by the terminal. The metal plating is not applied to a portion of the leaf spring where stress concentrates when the leaf spring is resiliently moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Motoya TAKEUCHI, Takayasu MUTO, Katsutoshi TERAKAWA
  • Patent number: 8766126
    Abstract: A push button switch 1 is so constructed as to disengage the movable contacts 55b, 56b from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a through operation of the push button 2 held in the switch case 3. A first leaf spring 550 is provided in the switch case 3 to act as an opening-biasing means to bias the movable contacts 55b, 56b away from the fixed contacts 55a, 56a. The movable contact 55b is disposed at an end of the first leaf spring 550 and adapted to engage with and disengage from the fixed contact 55a. The first leaf spring 550 is adapted to be at a position where the movable contact 55b is open relative to and disengaged from the fixed contact 55a at zero displacement of the first leaf spring 550.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kawaguchi, Masazumi Taniguchi, Atsushi Matsumoto, Masashi Fujimoto, Yasuo Onishi
  • Publication number: 20140008189
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an electronic circuit breaker. The electronic circuit breaker has a moveable contact arm having a moveable main electrical contact, and a lockout mechanism operable to contact the moveable contact arm and block motion of thereof, the lockout mechanism having a lockout latch with one or more pivot joints, a moveable stop on, and an offset engagement portion, the moveable stop adapted to contact the moveable contact arm, and an unlock actuator providing an unlock force at the engagement portion causing lockout latch pivoting and release of the moveable contact arm. Also disclosed are secondary electrical contacts configured to engage each other in the ON configuration, with a leaf spring operably supporting a moveable one of the secondary contacts, the leaf spring configured to be flexed to close the secondary contacts. A method of operating the electronic circuit breaker is provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Guang Yang, Timothy Biedrzycki
  • Publication number: 20130284572
    Abstract: A process of forming a through-silicon via (TSV) in a die includes forming a movable member in the TSV that can be actuated or that can be a sensor. Action of the movable member in the TSV can result in a logic word being sent from the TSV die to a subsequent die. The TSV die may be embedded in a substrate. The TSV die may also be coupled to a subsequent die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Weng Hong Teh, Robert Bob L. Sankman
  • Patent number: 8466872
    Abstract: An input apparatus includes a case, an operation body stored rotatably in the case, a magnetic body fixed to the operation body, a magnet provided around the operation body, a magnetic detection element for detecting a magnetic flux from the magnetic body, and a frame for retaining the case. The magnetic detection element faces the operation body with a predetermined space therebetween. The frame includes depression sections for causing the magnetic detection element to elastically contact the lower surface of the case. This input apparatus can accurately detect a rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Enomoto, Tamotsu Yamamoto, Kenji Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20100187076
    Abstract: Disclosed is a micro-electro-mechanical switch, including a substrate having a gate connection, a source connection, a drain connection and a switch structure, coupled to the substrate. The switch structure includes a beam member, an anchor, an anchor beam interface and a hinge. The beam member having a length sufficient to overhang both the gate connection and the drain connection. The anchor coupling the switch structure to the substrate. The anchor beam interface coupling the anchor to the hinge. The hinge coupling the beam member to the anchor at a respective position along the anchor's length, the hinge to flex in response to a voltage differential established between the gate and the beam member. The switch structure having gaps between the substrate and the anchor in regions proximate to the hinges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond GOGGIN, Padraig FITZGERALD
  • Publication number: 20090211887
    Abstract: A moving contact head for tap switches comprises a moving contact head installation plate component (200) rotating with a switch main shaft (100), and a holder-type moving contact head (300) arranged on the moving contact head installation plate component (200). The holder-type moving contact head (300) is divided into two sets of upper and lower moving contact head components, which are connected to each other and formed a holder shape; wherein, each moving contact head component comprises a moving contact head unit (320) consisting of a plurality of single moving contact heads (321) in parallel, and a leaf spring component (330) arranged on the moving contact head component (320); both ends of each single moving contact head (321) are provided with a contact point, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: RIMING XIAO
  • Publication number: 20090008230
    Abstract: A switch includes a base, a support terminal assembled in the base, a movable contact piece made of a belt-like electroconductive material bent into a substantial J-shape in section, a plunger vertically movably accommodated in an internal space, and a coil spring turnably supported by the plunger. The movable contact piece includes a movable contact provided in one end portion thereof An intermediate portion of the movable contact piece is turnably supported by a turning support portion of the support terminal. The internal space is formed by fitting a housing in the base. The plunger is slid while vertically moved press-contact one end portion of the coil spring against the other end edge portion of the movable contact piece such that the movable contact piece is reversed to bring the movable contact into contact with a fixed contact or to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kiyono, Toshihiro Naruo
  • Publication number: 20080217146
    Abstract: Angled spring contacts and switches made with contactors containing angled spring contacts are disclosed. The housing for the angled spring contacts has a generally cylindrical shape. The contacts are contained within the housing with their ends extending from the housing on either side. The contacts are formed by making bullet-shaped internal contacts that are joined by a spring. The spring is mounted to the two contacts to urge the two contacts away from each other at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the housing. This angle forces contact between each contact and the housing in at least two places, thus creating redundant paths between the contacts. Switches, such as plunger switches having a normal or OFF position, and an actuated or ON position, may be made with one or more angled spring contacts. The contacts have separate surfaces for electrical conduction and for arcing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Cherry Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Albrecht, Richard W. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 7419297
    Abstract: There is disclosed a control device including (i) a support (4, 4.1), (ii) an electronic module (6, 60) arranged in or on the support, (iii) a push-button (2.1 to 2.5) mounted to be mobile on the support so as to have a travel in translation along an axis of actuation, (iv) a first contact element (210) including a mobile part (211) placed on the axis of actuation so as to be actuated by the push-button, and (v) a second contact element (220) with which the mobile part of the first contact element can be brought into contact in order to establish an electric connection between the two contact elements, the electronic module including at least one contact pad (610, 620) in electric contact with the first or second contact element, the other contact element having a determined electric potential. The first and second contact elements are respectively formed of a first metal contact strip (210) and a second metal contact strip (220) both carried directly by said support (4, 4.1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventor: Pierre-André Noirjean
  • Publication number: 20080121505
    Abstract: In an arrangement of carrying out a switch operation of operating a driven mechanism by an operating member operated by a user and bringing and detaching contacts provided to movable contact pieces into contact with and from fixed contacts by deforming and recovering the movable contact by the operated driven mechanism, the contacts of the movable contact pieces are formed by carrying out mechanical working of projecting portions of the movable contact pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Isao Maeda, Hiroshi Kusama, Hideki Matsumura, Norikazu Yoshida, Fumitaka Hayase
  • Patent number: 7358839
    Abstract: A heavy duty relay can safely switch a current of 40 A to 1 kA. The heavy duty relay is provided with a changeover spring which can be resiliently deflected by means of a switching force and with a normally-open contact, against which a contact point of the changeover spring is electrically conductively pressed in a switching position. The normally-open contact is arranged on a normally-open spring contact, which exhibits a higher spring stiffness than the changeover spring and is resiliently deflected in the switching position, and the changeover spring and/or the normally-open spring contact comprises a deflection region at least partially surrounded by a weakened zone. The spring stiffness of the deflection region is reduced relative to the region of the changeover spring and/or the normally-open spring contact surrounding the weakened zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Mikl
  • Patent number: 7109429
    Abstract: A switch assembly has a base, a cover and multiple conductive slices. The base has an extending board and multiple inserting recesses. The inserting recesses are formed in the extending board and each have two mounting posts and an inserting hole. The mounting posts are formed on and protrude up from the recess. The inserting hole is formed through the extending board. The cover is mounted over the base. The conductive slices are attached to the inserting recesses and each has an elastic tab and a mounting tab. The mounting tab is contacted with the elastic tab, is attached to the inserting recess and has two mounting holes, an opening and two clamping slices. The mounting holes are formed through the mounting tab and correspond to the mounting posts. The opening is formed through the mounting tab and corresponds to the inserting hole. The clamping slices are attached to the mounting tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Fu-Hsiung Lee
  • Patent number: 7061350
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic relay with an electromagnetic coil for exciting a magnetic field and an iron circuit for guiding the magnetic field, wherein the electromagnetic coil surrounds at least part of the iron circuit and the iron circuit comprises a core, a movable armature and a yoke. The electromagnetic relay further comprises a contact system with a movable contact bridge which can be actuated dependent on the magnetic field. In order to provide an electromagnetic relay that is able to disconnect or connect a plurality of electric contacts simultaneously in a particularly secure and loss reduced manner, according to the present invention there are provided at least three electric contacts on the contact bridge. According to an advantageous embodiment, the contact system comprises three fixed contacts which are corresponding each to one of three phases and the contact bridge forms a star point of the three phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Schneider, Titus Ziegler
  • Patent number: 7049531
    Abstract: A circuit selector assembly including an electrical conductor, an electrical contact, a first spring beam connected to the electrical contact and a second spring beam connected to the electrical contact. The second spring beam biases the electrical contact to a first position, the first spring beam being deflected when the electrical contact is in a second position, the second position being defined as when the electrical contact is contacting the electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Pent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn J. Kondas, Daniel L. Hayes
  • Patent number: 7032294
    Abstract: A switchable shunt has an insulating layer separating conductive lead and spring metal layers. The shunt includes a base region formed on the spring metal layer, one or more arms formed in the conductive lead layer and at least one of the insulating and spring metal layers, one or more pad regions electrically coupled to an arm and formed in at least the conductive lead layer, and one or more gaps. Each arm extends through a gap and is resiliently biased toward a shunted state with the pad region in electrical contact with the base region. The shunt is movable to an electrically open state where the pad and base regions are electrically isolated. A method of making the shunt includes etching the shunt from laminated material and pushing the arm and pad through the gap. The shunt may be operated by applying a force to the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Stevenson J. Marek, Craig A. Leabch, Larry C. Webb, Jr., Mark A. Miller, Anthony J. Liberko, Raymond R. Wolter, Steven R. Lagergren
  • Patent number: 7012204
    Abstract: A silver contact fixing structure for conductive blades aims at providing a retaining force on a silver contact so that the silver contact is more secure and does not break loose when subject to striking. The silver contact is built in a fastening section formed on a conductive blade. The fastening section has at least two fixing zones connecting to each other and a bucking end adjacent to the fixing zones to increase the retaining force between the silver contact and the conductive blade so that the silver contact does not break loose easily thereby increasing the service life thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chin-Wen Chou
  • Patent number: 7012207
    Abstract: To electrically connect switch terminals of a housing and a control member in a switch for an electric tool with ease and to prevent the electric connection from becoming incomplete even when vibration occurs, elastic bodies for maintaining an electric connection are interposed between the control member and the switch terminals so that the control member and the switch terminals can maintain a stable connection even when vibration is imparted to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Satori S-Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yahagi, Isao Inagaki
  • Patent number: 6884952
    Abstract: A contact finger module for mounting in a high-power switchgear includes at least one contact finger having a contact piece and a flexible contact piece support, which extends along a longitudinal direction and has an attachment end and a contact-making end. The contact piece overhangs the contact piece support in the opposite direction to a deflection direction, and is connected to the contact piece support at the contact-making end. The contact finger module includes at least one leaf spring, which extends along the longitudinal direction and has an attachment end at which it is connected to the attachment end of the contact piece support in the mounted state. The leaf spring can produce a force that counteracts deflection of the contact piece in the deflection direction. In the mounted state, the leaf spring can extend in the longitudinal direction at least as far as the center of the extension of the contact piece in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Mauroux, Patrick Huguenot
  • Patent number: 6878889
    Abstract: A device is provided to prevent unauthorized opening of the garage door by interrupting the flow of electrical power to the automatic garage door opener. A power-interrupting switch, suspended from a desired overhead location in the garage, is interposed between the power source and garage door opener to selectively interrupt or complete the flow of electricity to the garage door opener. By interrupting the electrical flow, the garage door opener is deactivated and will remain unresponsive to a possible unauthorized remote control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventors: Richard R. Horst, Sandra L. Horst
  • Patent number: 6872906
    Abstract: To enable to facilitate integration and part control by reducing a number of parts and a number of integrating steps and restrain electric contact performance from being deteriorated by preventing play, in a slide switch including a pole board (3) having a fixed contact and a movable board (11) made of a resin fixedly supporting a base portion (21) of a movable contact (19) and capable of sliding contact portions (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e), at a front end of the movable contact (19) relative to the fixed contact by moving along the pole board (3), the base portion (21) of the movable contact (19) is formed in a shape of a flat plate, the base portion (21) of the movable contact (19) is fixed to the movable board (11) by insert-molding of the resin and the movable contact (19) is inclinedly supported by the movable board (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakazawa, Yukihiro Kakegawa
  • Patent number: 6872896
    Abstract: Structure for forming a switchable shunt for a suspension assembly having conductive, insulating and metal base layers. The shunt includes a bridge in the conductive layer with either a continuous connection or small gap between ends of the bridge. The continuous connection of the bridge is severed either by temporarily moving the lands out of their original plane by stretching and rupturing the bridge or by shearing the continuous connection of the bridge. For the sheared or gapped bridge, at least one end of the bridge is moved out of the plane, compressed and elongated. When released, the separated ends of the bridge overlap and contact each other to form a normally-closed switch. To subsequently open the switchable shunt, at least one of the lands is moved out of plane to physically and electrically open the connection between the separated and overlapped ends of the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven R. Young, Fredrick V. Hayen, Joshua J. Harmala
  • Patent number: 6723931
    Abstract: A switchable shunt has an insulating layer separating conductive lead and spring metal layers. The shunt includes a base region formed on the spring metal layer, one or more arms formed in the conductive lead layer and at least one of the insulating and spring metal layers, one or more pad regions electrically coupled to an arm and formed in at least the conductive lead layer, and one or more gaps. Each arm extends through a gap and is resiliently biased toward a shunted state with the pad region in electrical contact with the base region. The shunt is movable to an electrically open state where the pad and base regions are electrically isolated. A method of making the shunt includes etching the shunt from laminated material and pushing the arm and pad through the gap. The shunt may be operated by applying a force to the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Stevenson J. Marek, Craig A. Leabch, Larry C. Webb, Jr., Mark A. Miller, Anthony J. Liberko, Raymond R. Wolter, Steven R. Lagergren
  • Publication number: 20040045800
    Abstract: An electrical limit switch (10) is provided and comprises a number of contact elements (30) each having a slot (32) with inner cutting edges (34) for penetrating the insulation of and containing a conducting element (48). The contact elements (30) are provided on a body which engages a base (56) wherein the base (56) receives a plurality of conducting elements (48). Upon engagement of tje body and base (56), the conducting elements (48) are foced into respective slots (32) in the contact elements (30), thus providing a rapid electrical connection. The switching means of the limit switch (1) is provided by an actuating arrangement (14) including a plunger portion (16) and a roller (18), wherein the plunger(16) includes electrical contacts (36a, 36b) which are moveable with the plunger. Each contact (36a, 36b) provides an electrical connection between two of the contact elements (30) when the plunger (16) is in the appropriate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Trickett, James Boyd
  • Patent number: 6657143
    Abstract: The size of the key switch apparatus, particularly its height, is reduced to allow its use even in keyboard-type electronic musical instruments. By virtue of a key-driven actuator, multiple terminal strips are allowed to contact bus bars installed in more than one stage so as to produce multiple tones simultaneously. In this key switch apparatus, the multiple bus bars are installed, being shifted in location in their respective stages, and multiple terminal strips are also installed in each stage so that they may contact the individual bus bars individually. In addition, the actuator has a terminal-strip engaging means for controlling the movements of the multiple terminal strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suzuki Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Minoru Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6576853
    Abstract: In a switch having first and second contacts, a first contacting portion of the first contact is movable in a first direction alone while a second contacting portion of the second contact is movable only in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The first contacting portion is supported by a first spring portion. The second contacting portion is supported by a second spring portion and faced to the first contacting portion in the first direction to be brought into contact with the first contacting portion with the second spring portion being bent. The first and the second contacting portions are in a mutual relationship such that, when the first contacting portion is press-contacted by the second contacting portion in the first direction, the second contacting portion is applied with component force in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Joe Motojima
  • Patent number: 6445275
    Abstract: An overload-protection push-button switch with automatic resetting mechanism of pull-push type is disclosed. The switch is characterized in that a pull-push rod and a floating rocker are used to transmit a force on a pressing stem to a conducting leaf. Moreover, a guiding mechanism including a guider and a guided-member on the floating rocker is used to guide the moving direction of the floating rocker under the action of the pull-push rod. Thus, the direction force on the pressing stem can be different from the moving direction of the nose of the floating rocker by which the conducting leaf is actuated. Moreover, in case of overload, a positioning unit for positioning the pressing stem will be unlocked and thus the pressing stem can automatically return to its reset position. In view of the above, a push-button switch that has simple and easily-assembled structure as well as an operation of exactly tripping is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6350970
    Abstract: A switching mechanism is utilized in a heating appliance, such as a toaster, that includes a bread support that supports a food item to insert and remove the food item from a cooking cavity of the appliance. The appliance includes an electronic circuit that controls operation during a heating cycle. The switching mechanism includes a switch having a first terminal adapted to receive a power signal and a second terminal coupled to the electronic circuit. The switch operates responsive to an applied switching force to couple the first terminal to the second terminal and thereby apply power to the electronic circuit. A switch actuator has a first end, a second end, and a retaining member near the second end. The second end is attached to the appliance to rotate about an axis. The switch actuator operates responsive to a force being applied to the bread support to rotate about the axis to a first position and apply the switching force to the switch so power is applied to the electronic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Salton, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Huggler
  • Patent number: 6326568
    Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a first switch contact having a base and an integral first contact arm folded over the base. The contact arm has an upwardly facing contact surface. A second switch contact arm includes a base and an integral spring contact arm folded into cantilevered position over the base. The spring contact arm has a distal end folded thereunder to define a downwardly facing contact surface opposing the upwardly facing contact surface and spaced therefrom in a normally open condition of the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Roberto Martucci, Mario Previato, Gianni Zuin
  • Patent number: 6087603
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a switch, preferably a steering column switch for an automobile, with which both control currents and load currents are to be controlled. The object of the present invention is to mostly prevent soil and scale from forming on the contact surfaces. The present invention achieves this object by transforming the grinding movement of the operating element into a movement of the contact points perpendicular to one another with the help of a mechanical control. Advantageous embodiments involve the design and positioning of the contact points as well as the design of the mechanical control and a method of assembling the switch according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Hecht, Martin Engelhardt, Rudolf Klein
  • Patent number: 6064016
    Abstract: A switch is provided that includes a circuit board support (12) with a contact bump (24, 26) thereon, and a sheet metal terminal (16) having a deflectable blade (20,22) with an elongated H-shaped slot (70). The slot forms rear and front tines (72, 74) with adjacent free ends (84, 86) that lie over the bump, to contact the bump when the front end of the blade is allowed to move towards the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Zoltan Muzslay
  • Patent number: 6060674
    Abstract: An electrical circuit interrupter comprising a housing with an operating mechanism disposed therein and including first and second separable main contacts disposed within the housing is taught. There is an electrically conducting first contact support which has a shape which substantially doubles back upon itself and which has parallel, spaced apart first and second legs forming a central region. An electrically insulating support member is supplied which is disposed in the central region and has a substantial portion outboard of the central region in a disposition to shield a portion of the contact support member. It also has a portion which captures the first contact support member. In addition, magnetic plates are disposed within the central region for cooperating with other closed loop magnetic plates outside of the support member for providing a slot motor action for the movable contact. An arc runner is provided which is trapped between the support member and the contact support conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Malingowski, Peter J. Theisen, Peter J. McGinnis, Joseph F. Changle, Mark A. Juds, James A. Mading, Lance Gula
  • Patent number: 6039599
    Abstract: A switch 120 for a card reader assembly includes first and second terminals 122, 140 disposed in a card-receiving cavity 90. The first terminal 122 includes a board mounting section 124, a body portion 126 and a contact section 132 spaced from the board mounting section. The second terminal includes a board mounting section 142 at one end, a body section 144 and a switch portion 150 at an opposed end. Switch portion 150 has a card engaging end 152 and a contact engaging end 156 spaced therefrom and a fulcrum engaging portion 154 therebetween. The housing defines a fulcrum adapted to support the fulcrum engaging portion. Upon inserting a card 170 into the card receiving cavity 90, the card engages the card engaging end 152 of the second terminal causing the switch portion of the second terminal to pivot from one position to another providing an electrical signal indicating that the card 170 is fully inserted into the cavity 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Karen Elizabeth Benjamin, James Henry Hyland
  • Patent number: 6013883
    Abstract: A miniature electrical switch that can be mounted on a circuit board, includes a dielectric housing (12) with a forwardly-opening cavity (26), a first contact (16) lying primarily within the cavity, and a second contact (14) lying outside the cavity and engaging the first contact except when the first contact is depressed. The second contact is of largely U-shape, with a middle (64) and lower section (52) in a fixed position and with an upper section (60) that can resiliently bend. The second contact is a thicker plate of sheet metal with a top section (28) that forms the top of the cavity front and which has a front edge (30) which engages a contacting part (66) at the front of the first contact upper section. The second contact is mounted to lie on the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises
    Inventor: Alan Janniere
  • Patent number: 5994654
    Abstract: A rotary push-type stepper switch can include a printed circuit board that acts as a support mechanism for tubular electrical connectors extending beyond the edge of the board through cut-outs in the perimeter wall of a switch housing. Each tubular connector has an upstanding tab extending through the circuit board, so that the tubular connector has good surface area support on the board lower surface. Each tubular connector has two cantilever spring leaf elements adapted to grip the surfaces of a spade terminal inserted into the respective connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Raymond Benson
  • Patent number: 5977497
    Abstract: A switch device comprises an insulative housing and a pair of switch terminals each having an outside connection section and an inside section in the housing. The first switch terminal 5 has a plurality of flexible arms 8A, 8B with a free end. Each flexible arm has a movable contact point so that when the flexible arms receive pressure, they are flexed to bring the respective movable contact points into contact with the fixed contact 14 of the second switch terminal 6, thus providing a reliable switching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 5969586
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic relay in which a contact mechanism 50 provided on a base 10 is driven by a card 60 which slides and moves in parallel to the axis of an electromagnet block 20 provided in the base 10 as the electromagnet block 20 is magnetized and demagnetized, the base 10 comprises a guide portion 17 for restricting the card 60 in its position. This prevents variations in the performance characteristics so that high productivity and long service life of contacts can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Noda, Takeshi Suzuki, Takashi Noguchi, Tatsuo Shinoura, Takashi Asao
  • Patent number: 5811744
    Abstract: The double switch includes a core formed of insulating material and a connector formed of electrically conductive material. The connector extends along a front face of the core and has spring portions overlying a pair of isolated terminals secured on the opposite ends of the core. The connector includes a first pad lying in a plane common to second and third pads such that the switch can be mounted on a printed circuit board. By deflecting one or more of the spring portions into the second or third pad, an electrical circuit is completed between the first pad and the selected pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventor: Istvan Bartha
  • Patent number: RE49318
    Abstract: The electromagnetic relay comprises an auxiliary fixed terminal that has a configuration different from that of a fixed terminal and includes an auxiliary external input/output terminal and an auxiliary external output/input terminal that can be electrically connected to the auxiliary external input/output terminal. The electromagnetic relay comprises an auxiliary movable terminal that has a configuration different from that of a movable terminal and can electrically connect the auxiliary external input/output terminal and the auxiliary external output/input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Aratani