Dust, Dirt, Or Moisture Excluding Patents (Class 200/302.1)
  • Patent number: 11934621
    Abstract: An input device includes a fixed electrode, a movable electrode, and a movable member. The movable member is configured to elastically deform by receiving pressing force to relatively displace the movable electrode toward the fixed electrode. The movable member has an outer peripheral part. The outer peripheral part includes a suppression structure configured to suppress the movable member from being elastically deformed by the pressing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhira Takizawa, Yuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 11815868
    Abstract: A load control is provided which includes a wall-box mounted housing, an electrical device to control electrical power to a load, and a control assembly to control the electrical device. The control assembly includes a user-programmable control, with a saved settings data structure having multiple columns and rows of control settings, and a control interface with first and second button switches to selectively advance through the columns and rows of the settings data structure in a settings mode of the control. The button switches are selectable by a user without disassembly of the load control, and the control interface also includes one or more indicator devices to signal a column of the settings data structure to which the control has been advanced in the settings mode of the control, and to signal a row of the settings data structure to which the control has been advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: A. M. Sarwar Jahan, Abhishek D. Golwala, Ankit Milan Sanghvi, Abrar Quazi, Michael Ross
  • Patent number: 11676782
    Abstract: A dome-actuator structure for use in a dome switch is disclosed. The dome-actuator structure comprises a lower substantially horizontal lower dome, an upper actuator portion attached to the lower dome and that is positioned vertically over the lower dome such that depressing of the actuator portion operates to depress the lower dome, and a lateral arm that couples the actuator portion to the lower dome. The lateral arm and the lower dome are formed from a common piece of material. The actuator portion comprises an actuation block, made of plastic or synthetic material or made of natural or synthetic elastomer, fixed to the lateral arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: C&K COMPONENTS S.A.S.
    Inventors: Philippe Gauthier, Fabrice Valcher
  • Patent number: 11599205
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for handsets for testing devices with fluid ingress mitigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Adrian Riddick, Daniel Chouinard
  • Patent number: 11584260
    Abstract: A power seat operating device for a vehicle has a switch module for operating a power seat of the vehicle. In particular, the switch module includes a plurality of seesaw type switches to control operation directions of the power seat, and the operation directions of the power seat according to the operation of each switch is displayed with arrows on a display, thereby improving the switch operating convenience of the user such as accurately controlling the operation direction of the power seat according to the switch operation by the user, and accurately recognizing a selection state and an operation direction of the switch desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Baek Hee Lee, Keun Hui Kim, Beom Young Oh, Hyuk Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 11560070
    Abstract: A device having push button switches for operating a power seat of a vehicle, includes a switch module in which a plurality of push button type switches for an input operation to drive a power seat to a target position and in a target direction are modularized; a plurality of touch sensors embedded in the plurality of push button type switches and configured to indicate operating directions of the power seat; a main controller configured to determine an operating direction of the power seat according to a sensing signal from a touch sensor in which a touch sensing operation is performed among the plurality of touch sensors; and a display configured to display the operating direction of the power seat determined by the main controller as one arrow and visually guide a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Baek Hee Lee, Keun Hui Kim, Beom Young Oh, Hyuk Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 11543047
    Abstract: A switch assembly for a valve actuator can include a bracket, a rotatable switch rotatably coupled to the bracket at an adjustable angle, a fixed switch fixedly mounted to the bracket, an arm rotatably coupled to the bracket, and an adjustable switch trigger coupled to the arm. The rotatable switch can be tripped by the valve actuator and a trip point of the rotatable switch can be calibrated by setting the adjustable angle. The fixed switch can be tripped by the switch trigger on the arm and a trip point of the fixed switch can be set by adjusting the switch trigger relative to the arm. The assembly can include a calibration fixture for calibrating the switch assembly to the valve actuator independently of the valve actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: AUTOMATIC SWITCH COMPANY
    Inventors: Roy B. Bogert, Emmanuel D. Arceo, Christopher Ganci, Ivan Nicholl, Kevin Toth
  • Patent number: 11327572
    Abstract: Disclosed is a waterproof key module, including: a housing with a hollow inner chamber and an opening at an end, comprising a front housing portion and a bottom housing portion secured to each other, and the opening being provided on the front housing portion; a touch component limited in the inner chamber, comprising a touch plate extending out from the opening; and a waterproof adhesive film in a pre-tensioned status and isolating the touch component from the bottom housing portion, an edge of the film being secured to a position where the front housing portion is connected to the bottom housing portion, and the touch component being supported on the film; wherein at least one pressure sensor module is provided between the touch component and the bottom housing portion and configured to generate a pressure signal that represents a pressure degree according to a pressing on the touch component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: WEIFANG GOERTEK MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gongtao Lu, Junhao Wang, De'an Liu, Tianduo Zhou
  • Patent number: 11281259
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal comprising: a front case having a display mounted on the front part thereof; a rear case coupled to one side of the front case and coupled to the rear part of same; a main circuit board provided between the front case and the rear case; and a fluid movement port having a groove, of a predetermined depth, formed to be adjacent to the edge of the front part of the front case and extend in one direction, wherein the fluid movement port can guide the movement of fluid which enters through gaps between the display and the front case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngdo Cha, Minbok Lee, Jinwoo Park, Sunglyong Cha
  • Patent number: 11152169
    Abstract: A mouse device includes a casing, a circuit board and two button modules. The circuit board is disposed within the casing. Each button module includes an electronic switch, a button lid, a first protrusion post, a second protrusion post and a buffering structure. The electronic switch is disposed within the casing. An end of the button lid is connected with the casing. The first protrusion post and the second protrusion post are disposed on the bottom surface of the button lid. The buffering structure is disposed on the casing and aligned with the second protrusion post. The second protrusion post is inserted into a buffering hole of the buffering structure. While the button lid is depressed or the pressing force is released, the buffering structure is contacted or not contacted with the second protrusion post along a first lateral direction and/or a second lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Ya-Jun Li, Chun-Cheng Lu
  • Patent number: 11153978
    Abstract: An novel enclosure for a device featuring an encoder and an electronic display in which the cutouts, and dimensions of the surfaces and their relative angles provide a device that is compact, durable, and easy to see and operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: William Glenn Wardlow, Django Gary Wardlow
  • Patent number: 11139126
    Abstract: A method for producing a solid-insulated circuit-breaker pole includes forming a pole shell housing with an elastic layer that is integrally joined to the pole shell housing; and mounting a vacuum fault interrupter into the pole shell housing provided with the elastic layer. Also disclosed is a solid-insulated circuit-breaker pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Dirk Pohle
  • Patent number: 11127541
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic switch, comprising: an armature; a slider configured to manually move to actuate the armature; and a deformable force transfer element positioned between the slider and the armature, wherein the slider is configured to be pressed against the deformable force transfer element to actuate the armature with a press force, and wherein the deformable force transfer element is configured to deform when a press force threshold value is exceeded to limit a transferable force from the slider onto the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11101085
    Abstract: What is presented is a key module (100) with a cover element (110) and a tappet (105) having a cam nose (135), wherein the tappet (105) is supported to be movable along a movement axis (200) by the cover element (110), wherein the tappet (105) has a cylindrical keycap supporting portion (160) in a passage area (210) in which it projects through the cover element (110) and has at least one rib (170) on a guiding portion (165) adjacent to the an keycap supporting portion (160) on an outside (167). Furthermore, the key module (100) includes a contactor unit (115) formed and arranged to be taken along by the cam nose (135), and a contact piece (120) formed and arranged for establishing electric contact with the contact nose (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Eduard Ruff
  • Patent number: 11087938
    Abstract: A switch device that includes a switch, a casing, side wall portions extending in a first direction from the casing, front and back wall portions extending in the first direction from the casing, a dust-proof portion extending from the back wall portion, and an operation knob including an upper surface portion swingable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a third direction opposite to the second direction and covers the dust-proof portion, and a back surface portion extending in a fourth direction opposite to the first direction from the back end of the upper surface portion and faces a part of the dust-proof portion, wherein the side wall portions, the front wall portion, and the back wall portion form a substantially rectangular shape, the side wall portions, the front wall portion, and the dust-proof portion form another substantially rectangular shape greater than the substantially rectangular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10943750
    Abstract: A weatherproof switch cover includes a base plate, a rocker arm provided in the base plate and movable between a first position and a second position and a membrane provided below the rocker arm, the membrane providing a weatherproof seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jason Peter Thomas
  • Patent number: 10923303
    Abstract: A vacuum circuit breaker capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated in a vacuum valve includes a movable side contact and a fixed side contact which are arranged in the inside of the vacuum valve; a fixed side energization shaft to which the fixed side contact is fixed; a movable side energization shaft to which the movable side contact is fixed; an energization connection portion provided at a position where the movable side energization shaft protrudes from the vacuum valve; and a coupling body provided at the outside tip portion of the movable side energization shaft. The coupling body at the outside tip portion of the movable side energization shaft is coupled to an insulation operating rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoaki Inoue, Yusuke Nishimura, Masashi Kawada
  • Patent number: 10886077
    Abstract: A mobile terminal having a terminal main body including a front case forming an internal area including a submergence area into which water is introduced and a waterproof area into which water is blocked from being introduced, and an internal frame; a first unit including a key module mounted in the terminal main body, and generating a control command when a pressing occurs, the key module being positioned in the submergence area and moving due to an external force; a second unit positioned in the waterproof area, and when the pressing occurs, generates a signal; an elastic deformation layer of which a portion is elastically deformed due to movement of the first unit, so the second unit is pressed by the first unit; and a waterproof layer attaching the elastic deformation layer and the front case so partitioning results in the submergence area and the waterproof area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Bokyong Park, Changyong Jang, Gihwan Kim, Jinhwan Lee, Chalkee Jung, Euigeon Lee, Dongjun Choi
  • Patent number: 10804048
    Abstract: A switch for a rotating machine is provided with: a casing supporting two or more terminals respectively having contacts so as to hold the contacts exposed on an inside of the casing; a rod having a rod body fitting in the casing axially movably from a first position to a second position; a first spring axially biasing the rod returning back; a carrier housed in the casing and combined with the rod body to follow axial motion of the rod body; a conductor carried by the carrier and exposed on a side face of the carrier toward the terminals and depart from the terminals at the second position; a second spring intervening between the carrier and the conductor to bias the conductor toward the contacts; and a seal intervening between the rod and the casing and fluid-tightly isolating an interior of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Miyagi, Hideyuki Inose
  • Patent number: 10804047
    Abstract: The mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal of the present invention may include a display unit, a body, a first signal unit, a second signal unit, and a signal connection module. The signal connection module may be disposed in a hole formed in the body to shield the hole. The signal connection module may electrically connect the first signal unit and the second signal unit. The first signal unit may be various circuit boards. The second signal unit may have a function of receiving an input or an antenna function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngdo Cha, Hyunsu Song, Bonghyun Lee
  • Patent number: 10804046
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a key structure and an electronic apparatus. The key structure includes a housing; an electronic switch; a key cap; and a rocker, wherein the housing is provided with an opening configured to mount the key cap, the electronic switch is located inside the housing and corresponds to a position of the opening, and the key cap is mounted in the opening, and wherein the rocker has a first end fixed to the key cap and a second end hinged to the housing, and the rocker has a length larger than or equal to a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianwei Liu, Shaojie Wang, Jianjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 10782818
    Abstract: A force input sensor includes a load cell to adapt a compressive force applied to the force input sensor into a strain experienced by a strain sensor in the load cell. In particular, the load cell includes two compression plates separated from one another by a gap so as to define a volume between them. A flexible substrate (a “diaphragm”)—includes a strain sensor and is disposed and supported within the volume. One of the two compression plates includes a feature (a “loading feature”) that extends toward a central region of the flexible substrate. As a result of this construction, when the compression plates receive a compressive force, the loading feature induces a bending moment in the flexible substrate, thereby straining the strain sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Deng, Travis N. Owens, Shubhaditya Majumdar, Wei Lin, Ying-da Wang, Timothy D. Koch, Nathan K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 10742785
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided to address limitations of related art input systems. The mobile terminal includes a display unit, a support bracket including a support part configured to support a backside of the display unit and an extension part extending from the support part, a front window coupled with a front surface of the display unit and extension part, the front window including a rigid material, at least 3 front sensors located at the extension part of the support bracket, each generating a front force signal by receiving a front force applied to a prescribed point of the front window, and a controller measuring an applied point and magnitude of the front force through the front force signal generated by each of the at least 3 front sensors. When a force is applied, a location and magnitude of the force is measured and recognized as a classified input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Choonghwan Shin, Byunghwa Lee, Jungki Kim
  • Patent number: 10648267
    Abstract: A subsea umbilical termination assembly comprising: an umbilical termination head fixed to the end of a subsea umbilical; and an electrical and/or optical distribution unit comprising a base frame and several connectors mounted to the base frame, wherein each connector is electrically connected to an electrical cable of the subsea umbilical via the umbilical termination head or optically connected to an optical cable of the subsea umbilical via the umbilical termination head. The umbilical termination head is mounted in a space provided inside the base frame of the distribution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY SCANDINAVIA AS
    Inventors: Steinar Lindemann Hestetun, Hans-Peter Fleischer
  • Patent number: 10643803
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an electrically insulating support for an electromechanical switch. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed method includes manufacturing at least first and second portions of the support with respectively first and second plastics having different temperature heat resistances and manufacturing the support as a single piece by at least one of an overmolding process and a multi-material injection process. In some embodiments, the electrically insulating support is manufactured according to the method for manufacturing an electrically insulating support. Also provided is a method for manufacturing an electromechanical switch, which in some embodiments includes manufacturing an electrically insulating support according to the presently disclosed method for manufacturing an electrically insulating support and attaching electrically conductive elements to different regions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventor: Álvaro Martínez Morales
  • Patent number: 10557958
    Abstract: A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler, James N. Thompson, Hal B. Haygood
  • Patent number: 10548235
    Abstract: Harsh environment key panel and bezel structures for a user interface device are disclosed. In embodiments, a user interface device includes a printed board, a switch mounted to the printed board, and a key panel disposed upon the printed board. The key panel includes a plurality of printed device layers forming a bezel, a button configured to actuate the switch, and a deformable interface between the bezel and the button. The plurality of printed device layers can include at least one continuous printed device layer that forms portions of the bezel, the button, and the deformable interface. The continuous printed device layer may include at least one rigid device material that forms a portion of the bezel and a portion of the button and a deformable device material that forms a portion of the deformable interface between the bezel and the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Clint L. Gosch, Matthew W. Ahrens, Brandon J. Cormier
  • Patent number: 10539696
    Abstract: A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler, James N. Thompson, Hal B. Haygood
  • Patent number: 10497523
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for prevention of ingress of particulates and water into an electrical switch includes an engagement element with a rigid first abutment portion for circumscribing an aperture extending through the outer surface of the switch housing and a rigid first retention portion. Also included is a sealing element being slidingly engageable with the engagement element that includes a first complementary abutment portion. The sealing element is formed from an elastically resilient polymeric material so that sealing engagement with the engagement element occludes passage and ingress of external particulates, dust and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: Defond Electech Co., Ltd., Defond Components Limited
    Inventor: Kin Yu Wong
  • Patent number: 10483053
    Abstract: A cover for an electric switch assembly is disclosed in the present application. The cover includes connecting features that permit connection to a housing for the switch assembly in at least two locations. A first location is defined by a cover positioned to completely enclose all electrically conductive components in the switch assembly. A second location is defined by a cover positioned to enclose a portion of electrically conductive components and to permit access to a circuit associated with an open switch in the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Malbin Jose Mendoza
  • Patent number: 10473807
    Abstract: A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: MAGSEIS FF LLC
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler, James N. Thompson, Hal B. Haygood
  • Patent number: 10453634
    Abstract: A wireless switch includes a cover member, a button member, a first plunger, a second plunger, a trigger spring, a return spring, a shaft, a housing, and a power generation module. An intermediate member constituted of the first plunger, the second plunger, the trigger spring, the return spring, and the shaft is connected between the button member and the power generation module. The intermediate member prevents a position of the shaft making contact with the power generating shaft of the power generation module from changing, and causes stress to build up in the trigger spring, until a movement distance of the button member reaches a predetermined distance. The intermediate member releases the stress built up in the trigger spring and pushes the power generation shaft with the shaft using the released stress upon the movement distance of the button member reaching the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Marumo, Ken Tamura, Kazuyuki Tsukimori, Hiroshi Shiino, Yasushi Kawashima, Hajime Umeki, Junji Obata, Keisuke Yano
  • Patent number: 10438758
    Abstract: A trunk switch module for a vehicle includes: a housing, of which a rear side is partially inserted into a trunk lid of the vehicle, having a mounting space at a front side of the housing; a trunk switch disposed in the mounting space to selectively open the trunk lid according to an operation of a user; a cover assembly attached to a front edge of the housing to close the opened front side of the housing, the cover assembly having a button sealing unit which corresponds to the trunk switch; a protection film attached to the front surface of the cover assembly; and an emblem mounted on the cover assembly at a front side of the protection film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Won Ho Kim, Keun Soo Kim, Jong Il Shin
  • Patent number: 10422908
    Abstract: A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
    Inventors: Clifford H. Ray, Glenn D. Fisseler, James N. Thompson, Hal B. Haygood
  • Patent number: 10414461
    Abstract: An operation device of a straddle type vehicle has a controller used to operate at least two or more kinds of functions of equipment mounted on the straddle type vehicle. The controller includes a controller operation portion capable of rotary and other freely moving operations. A rotary shaft of the controller inside the controller operation portion is arranged lower than a lower wall face of a switch box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Osanai, Yutaka Kikuchi, Masahiro Miki, Manabu Ichikawa, Tomoyuki Takewaka
  • Patent number: 10373789
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a terminal electrically connected to a fixed contact or a movable contact, and a case accommodating a contact point. The terminal includes a terminal piece having at least a portion located outside the case. The case includes a bottom surface section (first peripheral wall section) and a side surface section (second peripheral wall section). The bottom surface section has a gap to be closed with a sealant and an outer surface to which the sealant is applied. The side surface section has a through hole through which the terminal piece is inserted. The case has a flow path along which the sealant applied to the outer surface flows from the outer surface to the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chiharu Nakahara
  • Patent number: 10367503
    Abstract: A control panel and method of making a control panel for a dashboard of a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The control panel includes a trim element, a support element and a piezoelectric film. The trim element includes at least one control area. The piezoelectric film extends between the trim element and the support element. The support element has at least one recess facing the control area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE
    Inventor: Omar Ben Abdelaziz
  • Patent number: 10301857
    Abstract: In a push-button switch device for a vehicle including a case fixed to a vehicle body or a lid openably and closably mounted on the vehicle body, a push-button that forms a housing chamber in cooperation with the case and supported on the case configured for a pushing operation, and a switch housed in and fixed to the housing chamber for changing a switching mode thereof in response to a pushing operation of the push-button, a through passage is formed in the case, the through passage having one end part thereof communicating with the housing chamber, and an air vent hole is provided in the case, the air vent hole providing communication between the other end part of the through passage and the outer panel. Such configuration prevents water from entering a housing chamber thereby avoiding deterioration of the push-button, and enabling the housing chamber to breath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
    Inventors: Yuuichi Satou, Kunihiro Kuroda, Tsuyoshi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 10290440
    Abstract: A waterproof button assembly. The waterproof button assembly may include a housing including an opening and a button. The button may be positioned at least partially within the housing via the opening. The assembly may also include a plurality of engagement components positioned on opposite-distal ends of the button. The plurality of engagement components may be configured to retain the button within the housing. The engagement components may extend distally from the button, such that a portion of the engagement components may be positioned within apertures formed in the sidewall of the housing. The assembly may also include a plurality of supports, a tactile dome in contact with the button and at least one of the plurality of supports. A sensing component of the assembly may be positioned adjacent the housing and in alignment with the button and/or tactile dome for sensing actuation of the button within the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Pierre M. Teplitxky, Colin M. Ely, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Samuel B. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10283293
    Abstract: A thermally activated safety switch for safeguarding a consumer of a power supply network of a vehicle, having a switch housing in a temperature-independent switching unit, which subject to the temperature thereof establishes an electrically conductive connection between two external terminals fed out of the switch housing, wherein the external terminals are fed out at opposite housing sides of the switch housing. On the one hand, the external terminals are provided for an electrical and mechanical terminal connection to the cable connection ends of a consumer to be protected, and on the other hand to a cable portion leading to an on-board power supply electronics, and are configured accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ullermann, Ewald Schneider, Dietmar Koops
  • Patent number: 10276333
    Abstract: Improvements a modified aircraft switch to protect from Foreign Object Debris (FOD) failure. The aircraft switch is manufactured from the factory as a new OEM switch, but can also be modified from a pre-existing switch. The switch and method to modify a switch to protect a widely used existing switch in military and commercial aircraft that is failing from Foreign Object Debris intrusion and failure from FOD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Alan Paine
  • Patent number: 10234579
    Abstract: A method of performing a seismic survey including: deploying nodal seismic sensors at positions in a survey region; activating a plurality of seismic sources; and using the nodal seismic sensors to record seismic signals generated in response to the activation of the plurality of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAGSEIS FF LLC
    Inventors: Etienne Marc, Clifford H. Ray, James Nelson Thompson
  • Patent number: 10211009
    Abstract: A switch-containing cable when bended does not conduct electricity, but conducts electricity when pressurized with fingers. The cable has belt-like first and second oppositely disposed conductor films including respective first and second belt-like base materials on inner surfaces of which respective first and conductors are disposed; an insulating spacer arranged to maintain a gap therebetween; and a belt-like sheath configured with the first and second conductor films sandwiching the spacer and containing a belt-like conductor film functioning as a switch member in a hollow cavity. The first conductor film constituting the belt-like conductor film is movably overlaid on the insulating spacer, and the hollow cavity of the sheath includes a gap allowing for lengthwise relative displacement of at least the first belt-like base material caused by bending the sheath with respect to the belt-like conductor film housed in the hollow cavity, thereby preventing the cable from conducting electricity when bended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: FOSTER ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Koichi Yajima, Morikazu Nakada
  • Patent number: 10192702
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic relay, a connection terminal includes a first terminal section and a second terminal section. The first terminal section is accommodated in a base and is electrically connected to a coil. The second terminal section protrudes outside the base through a through hole and is electrically connected to an external connection body. The cover includes a second wall section provided to leave a space from a first wall section that has a through hole, and the second terminal section lies in the space. The space in which the second terminal section lies is sealed with a sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chiharu Nakahara
  • Patent number: 10192699
    Abstract: In a power seat operation device, a micro switch is attached inside a dial that is rotatably provided to a side face of a power seat. An opening is formed inside the dial, with an operation portion of a knob to operate the micro switch inserted through the opening. There is accordingly a possibility that liquid might infiltrate into the dial, however a channel is formed inside the dial by the dial and the knob. The channel lets liquid flow downward to the lower side of the micro switch so as to discharge the liquid to outside the dial in cases in which liquid has infiltrated into the dial through the opening in a state in which the opening is positioned at the upper side of the micro switch. The channel is partitioned from the micro switch, enabling flow of liquid to the micro switch to be prevented or suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakamura, Kenichi Katsube, Souichi Nakayama, Takenori Takashima, Satoshi Myojin, Tomonori Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10165096
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a body; a body hole formed in the body, the body hole communicating an inside and an outside of the body; and a waterproof unit positioned and movable in the body hole, the waterproof unit including: a rod extended in a communicating direction of the body hole; a stopper connected to an end of the rod, a portion of the stopper having a inclined shape with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rod; and a packing ring surrounding the rod, the packing ring sealing the body hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngdo Cha, Hyunsu Song, Bonghyun Lee, Choonhwa Lee, Dongwon Han
  • Patent number: 10152092
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a link mechanism provided in a body chassis and configured to operate in linkage with a rotational moving operation for rotationally moving a display chassis relative to a body chassis by a hinge mechanism and a drive wire that is a drive member configured to couple between the link mechanism and a keyboard unit and operate in linkage with the link mechanism, thereby to change relative height positions between a key top and a frame, in which the drive wire is extended to the outside of the keyboard unit through an insertion port formed in a side wall of a base plate and is coupled with the link mechanism and the body chassis includes a drainage passage at a position located under the insertion port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTD LTE
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10121612
    Abstract: A contact switch including a rail having slot with a first straight section and a second curved section, a toggle unit inside a housing, the toggle unit including an extension unit that slidably engages the slot and at least one contact, a contact unit in the housing including at least one contact, where the toggle unit moves in the housing such that the contacts on the toggle unit engage at least one contact on the stationary unit in the first straight section and the contacts disengage in the second curved section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: DIAL TOOL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mario Pagliuzza, Karel Hauk, Steven Pagliuzza, Daniel Ott
  • Patent number: 10115543
    Abstract: There is provided a keyboard cover including a first sheet material having a surface including a plurality of key tops configured of roughened surfaces and a base configured of a smooth surface connecting a plurality of the key tops, a plurality of the key tops being projected from the base viewed from the surface; and a second sheet material covering a rear surface of the first sheet material and having concave parts corresponding to a plurality of the key tops viewed from the rear surface. Also provided is an electronic apparatus, including a keyboard body and the keyboard cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Katsuhara, Hiroto Kawaguchi, Akira Ebisui
  • Patent number: 10102986
    Abstract: A control panel for a vehicle. The control panel includes a decorative layer and a control assembly. The decorative layer has a visible face and a rear face opposite to the visible face. The control assembly has a front face and a rear face opposite to the front face. The front face of the control assembly faces the rear face of the decorative layer. The control assembly is fixed to the decorative layer and includes a support film, a pressure sensor and a light-emitting diode. The pressure sensor and the light-emitting diode are printed on the support film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventor: Omar Ben Abdelaziz