Flexible Rod Actuated Patents (Class 343/903)
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Patent number: 12240421Abstract: A linear jack includes a coarse nut threadedly coupled to a first rotating screw and a first sleeve mounted to the coarse nut (the first rotating screw, the first sleeve, and the coarse nut collectively a high-speed assembly), and a second sleeve threadedly coupled to a second rotating screw (the second sleeve and the second rotating screw collectively a low-speed assembly). The coarse nut is configured to operate in a first mode where the coarse nut is held from rotating with the first rotating screw to convert rotational motion of the first rotating screw into translating motion of the coarse nut and the first sleeve. The coarse nut is configured to operate in a second mode where the coarse nut rotates with the first rotating screw so that only the low-speed assembly operates to extend the second sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2024Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: SOS Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Samuel R. Peacemaker, Benjamin Peacemaker, Travis Ernest Yoch, Preston Elijan Collins-Holt, Casimir August Sienkiewicz
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Patent number: 12054375Abstract: A lifting mechanism of an automated guided vehicle includes: a carrier tray; a base plate; a connecting rod module connected between the carrier tray and the base plate and configured to cause the carrier tray to translate along a first direction; and a lifting module, which is arranged on the base plate, connected to the connecting rod module and located on one side of the connecting rod module and configured to cause the carrier tray to translate by means of driving the connecting rod module, wherein the first direction is a lifting direction of the lifting module lifting the connecting rod module or a direction opposite to the lifting direction. An automated guided vehicle is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: BEIJING JINGDONG QIANSHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Longlong Qiao
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Patent number: 12034220Abstract: Provided is an antenna device capable of ensuring an installation space for components related to an antenna and eliminating a dead zone of a signal transmitted or received by the antenna by tilting an antenna unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: KMW INC.Inventors: In Ho Kim, Seong Man Kang, Hyoung Seok Yang, Yong Hee Han, Young Ji Hong, Dae Myung Park
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Patent number: 11898363Abstract: Disclosed is a telescopic utility pole where the individual segments are threaded on the outer and inner surfaces, the adjacent segments are threadedly engaged and extension/retraction of the pole segments is performed by twisting along threaded path. The advantage of using the threaded telescopic utility pole is that it can be deployed and erected quickly as compared to traditional utility poles.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Inventor: James G. Williamson
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Patent number: 11888211Abstract: A communication assembly includes a housing, a communication device, an extendable mast, and a control circuit. The housing is configured to be mounted on a vehicle. The communication device includes an antenna and is disposed at least partially within the housing. The extendable mast is mechanically coupled to the housing and supports the antenna. The control circuit is operably coupled to the mast and is configured to generate a signal to raise the mast from a first position of a distal end of the mast to a second position of the distal end in response to determining occurrence of a designated raise event. The antenna extends a greater distance from the housing in the second position of the mast than in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Padam Dhoj Swar, Danial Rice
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Patent number: 11775016Abstract: A display device is provided. A display device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a body, a moving plate, a bracket, a rack, an actuator and a driving gear. The bracket, rack, actuator and driving gear are coupled to one another to form a driving module, and the bracket comprises a moving guide, an upper cover and a heat dissipation fin. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the display device can be manufactured in which the moving plate can move reciprocatively in a stable manner with respect to the body, the heat dissipation of the actuator can be effectively performed, and the thickness and size of the driving module can be minimized.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Dong Jun Choi, Hang Seok Kim, Min Chul Shin, Gil Jae Lee
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Patent number: 11668816Abstract: An installation structure for a vicinity information detection sensor includes the vicinity information detection sensor and a vibration absorbing member. The vicinity information detection sensor includes a detector attached to a vehicle inner side of an outer panel of a vehicle body and configured to radiate electromagnetic waves that function as radar waves that detect vicinity information of a vehicle, and a motor provided in the detector and configured to change a radiation direction of the electromagnetic waves. The vibration absorbing member is placed between the outer panel and the vicinity information detection sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shuichi Aso
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Patent number: 11629492Abstract: An installation tool and method for spherical latticed shell structure is provided. The spherical latticed shell structure includes a plurality of latticed shell units. The installation tool includes a support frame, a hoisting system, a fixing frame and stay rope assemblies. The support frame is arranged on one side of a to-be-installed spherical latticed shell structure. The fixing frame is connected with the hoisting system. The hoisting system is arranged on the support frame for hoisting the fixing frame. The stay rope assemblies are connected with the fixing frame and the latticed shell units.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: CHINA CONSTRUCTION THIRD BUREAU FIRST ENGINEERING CO., LTD.Inventors: Jun Shi, Xuejun Sun, Juan Li, Yang Han, Shisong Liu
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Patent number: 11384897Abstract: A lifting mast includes a bottom layer component set, a first moving component set and a second moving component set. with the technical feature that plural balls are embedded between the screw hole of the first moving base of the first moving component set and the threaded section of the bottom linkage rod of the bottom layer component set and the technical feature that plural balls are embedded between the second moving base of the second moving component set and the threaded section of the hollow connecting rod of the first moving component set, when the hollow connecting rod of the first moving component set is screwed to the bottom linkage rod of the bottom layer component set and is linked by the rotation of the bottom linkage rod, it is smoother.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: SHANG RUI FENG CO., LTD.Inventors: Chiung-Chang Chen, Wen-Tsan Chen
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Medical treatment endoscope having an operation stick formed to allow a procedure instrument to pass
Patent number: 9289112Abstract: A medical treatment endoscope according to the present invention is provided with: a flexible sheath capable of a bending operation; an arm section protruding from the tip of the sheath and capable of a bending operation; an operation stick formed to allow a procedure instrument to pass therethrough so that the operation stick is operated by an operator in an attempt to bend the arm section; and a channel unit having a first channel which allows the procedure instrument to pass therethrough so that the channel unit is inserted through the operation stick detachably.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Shotaro Takemoto, Takumi Dejima, Kazushi Murakami -
Patent number: 7725083Abstract: A wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone handset is disclosed including a housing having a transceiver circuit disposed therein. An internal antenna is also disposed within the housing which is RF connected to the transceiver circuit. An external, retractable antenna is mounted on the housing and is selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The external, retractable antenna is RF connected to the transceiver circuit. When the external antenna is retracted, the internal antenna functions as a primary antenna. Should the need arise, the external antenna may be extended to improve the quality of the radio signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2000Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan Lee Sullivan
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Patent number: 7522111Abstract: A telescoping antenna is disclosed having a plurality of telescoping hollow elements, including an inner-most hollow element. A button latches onto the top of the inner-most element. The inner-most element also includes a tab for preventing its full retraction into the other hollow elements. A wire antenna element is connected to the button, extends through the hollow elements, and is operably connected to a retracting mechanism. The button can be detached from the hollow elements in order to extend the wire antenna elements from out of the hollow elements. The wire antenna element is electrically connected to the receiver circuit such that the wire can act as a long-wire antenna of a calculable radio frequency (RF) resonance when extracted to a particular length.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Uniden America CorporationInventor: Rodney Paul Opitz
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Publication number: 20090046032Abstract: A telescoping antenna is disclosed having a plurality of telescoping hollow elements, including an inner-most hollow element. A button latches onto the top of the inner-most element. The inner-most element also includes a tab for preventing its full retraction into the other hollow elements. A wire antenna element is connected to the button, extends through the hollow elements, and is operably connected to a retracting mechanism. The button can be detached from the hollow elements in order to extend the wire antenna elements from out of the hollow elements. The wire antenna element is electrically connected to the receiver circuit such that the wire can act as a long-wire antenna of a calculable radio frequency (RF) resonance when extracted to a particular length.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventor: Rodney Paul Opitz
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Patent number: 7468701Abstract: An attachment/detachment mechanism for an antenna is configured to avoid damage to the antenna when an excessively large force is applied to the antenna, regardless of the direction. A rotational L-shaped connector of an antenna section of the antenna is connected to an antenna housing disposed on a main electronic device unit. A fitting groove is formed on a male fitting cylinder on the rotational L-shaped connector side, and an O-ring is fitted to the groove. An engagement projection formed on an inner wall of a female fitting cylinder on the antenna housing frictionally engages with the O-ring. This configuration allows rotation and attachment/detachment of the antenna section relative to the antenna housing. A contact member is attached to the fitting cylinder to contact a contact spring 31 that presses the O-ring against the engagement projection.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: SMK CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Fujikawa, Keiichi Ogura
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Patent number: 7098855Abstract: The electronic device is for at least one of transmitting and receiving signals, has a housing 500 and at least a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna 510 that is operatively connected to the housing 500. A control system 708 automatically moves the GPS antenna 510 from a docked position relative to the housing 500 to a deployed position relative to the housing 500 in response to an occurrence of at least one predetermined event.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Michael Kotzin, Thomas J. Walczak, Eric Krenz
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Patent number: 6256000Abstract: A motor-driven antenna device in which an antenna element (10) has a short protruding length so that the outer dimension of the entire device is reduced, and in which damping of an AM-band signal by a signal path is restrained with a small stray capacitance. A rack cord (12) to be meshed with a pinion gear (24) is connected to a proximal portion of the antenna element (10) made of a helical coil over its entire length, and the antenna element (10) is caused to protrude and move to be housed by rotational driving of a motor drive section. The rack cord (12), the motor drive section and the pinion gear (24) are housed in a case (14), and a guide (26) to which the rack cord (12) is abutted and moves while bending is provided in the case (14). Thus, the rack cord (12) is abutted and moves to the guide (26) by the movement of the antenna element (10).Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Wasuke Yanagisawa, Ryo Horie, Takumi Yano, Takao Kawahara, Yuichi Kagoshima, Tomio Anbe
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Patent number: 6107969Abstract: A wireless device has a main housing and an antenna housing rotatably mounted on the main housing for rotation between a first, stored position alongside the main housing and at least one operative position. The antenna housing has a tubular extension projecting away from the first axis. A telescoping antenna element is slidably mounted in the tubular extension for telescoping movement between a retracted position and a deployed position extending out of the tubular extension as the antenna housing rotates between the first and operative positions. A flexible member secures the antenna to a rotatable actuator within the antenna housing for pushing the antenna element back and forth between its two positions as the antenna housing is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Ronald Gulino, Pamela L. Martin
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Patent number: 6051901Abstract: A motor unit fitted with a buffer mechanism which absorbs the turning force of a motor when an output shaft of the motor stops due to an external load while the motor is operative and which can provide stable performance without causing biting between a worm and a worm wheel. The motor unit fitted with the buffer mechanism causes relative rotation between the output shaft and the worm wheel when the output shaft stops turning while the motor is operative. Springs and rubbers are provided in series or in parallel in a power transmission system within the worm wheel with respect to the direction of rotation of the worm wheel so as to function as buffer members by absorbing the turning force of the motor when the output shaft stops turning while the motor is operative.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihiko Ishida
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Patent number: 6046706Abstract: An antenna mast and method of using it relate to a retractable mast having a retractable mast having a plurality of tubular telescoping sections to enable the mast to move between a fully retracted storage position and a fully extended use position. Each section is equipped with a thermoplastic bearing to facility rapid deployment. Pairs of diametrically opposed pulley mechanisms are mounted on opposite sides of each one of the sections, and the pairs of pulleys are angularly displaced from section to section for facilitating the structural stability of the deployed mast.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1997Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Inventor: Robert A. Vargas
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Patent number: 6043796Abstract: A clutch for a motor driven antenna according to the present invention includes a driving member rotated by a driving motor, a driven member for transmitting a rotating force of the driving member to an antenna element, and a clutch element for frictionally transmitting the rotating force of the driving member to the driven member. The clutch element includes recesses formed on a rotating track of one of opposing sides of the driving member and driven member, projections formed on a rotating track of the other side so as to be fitted into the recesses when the driving member and the driven member are rotated relative to each other, and anti-slip members protruded near the recesses such that a sliding frictional force caused at the tip end contact portions of the projections exceeds a maximum load of the antenna element including the driven member when the antenna element is extended or retracted.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Shinkawa, Shinichi Saito
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Patent number: 6002378Abstract: A telescopic rod antenna apparatus of the present invention includes a mechanism for extending/retracting a telescopic antenna element by operating a smallest-diameter one of rods of the antenna element, and a means for setting the rods in the second state where a tip portion of a largest-diameter rod contacts an O-shaped ring seal means and then extending the antenna element using the mechanism, setting the rods in the second state where the antenna element is retracted using the mechanism, and displacing the second state to the first state where the largest-diameter rod is returned to the initial position of a holding tube to bring a top portion into contact with the O-shaped ring seal means.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1998Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Harada, Shinichi Saito, Misao Kimura
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Patent number: 5995066Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes electrical contacts which each have a sliding mast contact portion and a docking contact portion. The apparatus includes a linearly extendable and retractable one-piece mast antenna. The sliding mast contact portions of the electrical connectors make contact with an outer surface of the mast antenna along the full length of the antenna as it is extended and retracted. The docking contact portions of each electrical connector make electrical contact only with a lower end portion of the antenna which has a larger diameter than the remainder of the antenna. The docking contact portions of each electrical connector only make electrical contact with the lower end portion when the antenna is substantially completely extended. In this manner the docking contact portions experience only a small degree of the wear experienced by the sliding mast contact portions, which make contact with the outer surface of the antenna along almost its entire length.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: James P. Muccioli, James E. Van Hout
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Patent number: 5973645Abstract: A snap-on antenna and connector mounting assembly for a hand-held electronic device, such as a hand-held computer. The hand-held electronic device has a housing with a sidewall and a jack-receiving aperture therein, an antenna jack extending through the jack-receiving aperture, and a flexible bushing positioned in the jack-receiving aperture between the antenna jack and the sidewall. The bushing isolates the antenna jack from the sidewall, so the antenna jack is deflectable relative to the sidewall without being damaged. The snap-on antenna has a substantially rigid base having an interior area therein and having a housing-attachment portion with an aperture communicating with the interior area. A plug connector contained within the interior area has a jack-connecting portion positioned to removably receive the antenna jack such that the antenna can be snapped into and off of the hand-held electronic device between installed and removed positions, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1996Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Intermec IP CorporationInventors: Robert A. Zigler, Kevin Arnal
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Patent number: 5959593Abstract: A power antenna for automatically stopping an electric motor when a telescoping trouble occurs with the antenna to thereby cause a load of more than a predetermined magnitude to be applied to the electric motor and preventing the electric motor from being burned out and a telescoping operating mechanism from getting damaged, whereby the occurrence of an erroneous operation of the antenna such as repeated contracting and expanding operations thereof can be controlled. A worm wheel (2) inside an antenna mechanism is pivotally supported in such a manner as to slide in an axial direction and an engagement groove (21) is formed in an annular fashion, and an operating portion (32) of a movable body (17) of a limit switch (30) provided in a driving circuit for the motor is brought into engagement with the engagement groove (21) of the worm wheel.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Nippon Antenna Company LimitedInventor: Hareo Hoshi
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Patent number: 5936589Abstract: A dielectric rod antenna has a dielectric rod and a waveguide which receives one end of the dielectric rod to excite the dielectric rod. The dielectric rod is divided along its length into at least two sections including a hollow tubular dielectric sleeve and a dielectric internal rod telescopically received and secured in the hollow of the dielectric sleeve. One end of the dielectric internal rod makes a releasable-fit engagement with the adjacent end of the dielectric sleeve so that the overall length of the antenna can be fixed against change during the use. The overall radius and the hollow radius of the dielectric sleeve and the overall radius of the dielectric internal rod are determined such that the propagation constant in the dielectric sleeve and the propagation constant in the dielectric internal rod are equalized to each other. The end of the dielectric internal rod adjacent to the dielectric sleeve is tapered so as to converge towards the end extremity.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1997Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazunari Kawahata
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Patent number: 5929826Abstract: A motor driven antenna apparatus for use in automobiles according to the present invention, includes a telescopic antenna mounted on the automobiles, a drive control mechanism for extending and retracting the telescopic antenna by a motor driven motor, a case for holding the drive control mechanism, a through-hole formed in a side wall of the case to make an inside and an outside of the case communicate with each other, and a duct having a first opening portion at one end and a second opening portion at other end, and attached to the case such that the first opening portion is connected to the through-hole outside the case and the second opening portion is formed outward below the through-hole. A foreign object blocking member is provided below the second opening portion and opposed to the second opening portion with a predetermined distance therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1998Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Shinkawa, Toru Sasaki, Junichi Kawahata
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Patent number: 5900846Abstract: A flexible telescoping antenna is constructed of plastic tubular sections telescoping between an end section and a compact antenna. Conducting inserts are provided within the tubular sections and enable electrical contact at any extraction interval of the antenna. The antenna utilizing plastic telescoping sections allows maximum mechanical deflection and thereby resists breakage while providing optimum electrical performance.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1996Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.Inventors: Craig Phelps, Gerard Hayes
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Patent number: 5889496Abstract: A system of antennas for conserving space and concealing the separate identity of the individual antennas. The antennas may be a radio antenna and a telecommunications antenna. The antennas may have a common base to eliminate separate wires and holes in the vehicle on which they are mounted. The antennas may be housed within the same casing to protect them from the elements and from other harm.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1997Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Inventor: Corey Maas
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Patent number: 5859622Abstract: An antenna extender system includes a means for applying a bias force on the antenna to urge it toward an extended position, and a means for controlling the velocity of the antenna when it is moved from a retracted to the extended position by a constant bias force. The antenna extender system solves the problem of uncontrolled instantaneous extension of antennas in small, mobile telecommunication instruments.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.Inventor: John Charles Phillips
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Patent number: 5835070Abstract: A retractable antenna for a communications device includes a housing; an elongated, flexible antenna mast having an inner end and an outer free end; a take-up spool rotatably mounted in the housing, the inner end of the mast secured to the take-up spool; and a connector extending from the housing and adapted to be received in a communications device housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1996Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Ericsson Inc.Inventor: Frank A. Scaraglino
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Patent number: 5831579Abstract: A latch mechanism for a cellular phone includes a rotatable detent portion attached to the helix of the antenna. A fixed detent member permanently attached to the phone includes a passageway to allow the antenna and rotatable detent to pass therethrough. A biased teeth is mounted between a plurality of guide detents formed on the inner surface within the fixed detent member and the base of the phone. While the teeth ring is allowed to move axially, it is keyed to prevent rotation. Accordingly, the detents formed on the rotatable detent member cause the rotatable detent member to rotate as it passes between the guide detents and as it engages the teeth ring. The forced rotations cause the detents of the rotatable detent portion to become engaged and disengaged with a latching undercut portion formed on a bottom portion of the guide detents.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.Inventor: Charles Albert Rudisill
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Patent number: 5793331Abstract: A user replaceable flexible retractable antenna for use with a cordless phone comprises a conductive base pipe assembly having a screw terminal to be threadably received on a bracket assembly of the cordless phone, and a flexible antenna assembly having a conductive contact secured to one end slidably received within the base pipe assembly. The contact is maintained in sliding communication with the inner wall of the base pipe assembly and is connected to a conductive helix extending through the flexible antenna to define a conductive path between the distal end of the flexible antenna and the screw terminal of the base pipe assembly. The antenna can be easily removed from the cordless phone by rotating the base pipe assembly to disengage the screw terminal from the bracket assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventors: Masahito Anzai, Dennis Chua, King Hoe Goh, Ai Choo Loh
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Patent number: 5642123Abstract: An apparatus for electrically driving a retractable antenna comprises a motor, a worm gear attached to the driving shaft of the motor, a pair of worm wheels engaged with the worm gear, a pair of rollers for rotating in accordance with the rotation of the worm wheels to longitudinally transfer a rod antenna element, and a roller urging mechanism for urging the rollers against the outer periphery of the rod antenna element. The roller urging mechanism includes an arm provided in correspondence with at least one of the rollers such that the arm can rotate about its proximal end, and supporting the roller such that the roller can rotate about a distal end of the arm, and a spring for applying an urging force to the arm to urge the roller against the outer periphery of the antenna element.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1995Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaki Shinkawa
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Patent number: 5578910Abstract: This invention relates to a skew motor driving circuit of satellite video receiver for eliminating a remaining voltage of ripple form generated at skew motor in a satellite video receiver such as SVR and the like. The invention is an apparatus for receiving a satellite video, a third transistor Q3 for executing on/off operation in response to control signal controlling a skew motor, a first transistor Q1 for supplying/cutting a skew motor input power 1 in conjunction with the operation of the third transistor, a fourth transistor Q4 for eliminating a remaining voltage remaining upon cutting a driving voltage supplied to said skew motor by an operation being contrary to the operation of said first and third transistors, and a second transistor Q2 for supplying skew pulses to the skew motor in response to the skew pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1995Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hong-Kweon Moon
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Patent number: 5576719Abstract: An automatic telephonic antenna mechanism for a radiotelephone handset having a body and a mouthpiece hinged thereto comprises a tubular antenna channel fastened to the body, an antenna plunger slidably installed within a first end of the channel, and a flexible connector slidably installed within a second end of the channel. The flexible connector has a first end connected to the antenna plunger via a dielectric coupler and a second end fastened to the hinged mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is rotatable about the hinge between open and closed positions, whereby movement of the second end of the flexible connector operates to extend and retract the antenna plunger.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1995Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventors: Irwin Gerszberg, Norman P. Graule, Eugene T. Kendig
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Patent number: 5570103Abstract: A driving apparatus for a motor-driven telescopic antenna including a rotary force transmitting mechanism installed between a drive side component rotated by a motor and a driven side component that extends and retracts an antenna element when rotated. The rotary force transmitting mechanism includes two coil springs provided circumferentially on the drive side component and two ridges formed with a space in between on the driven side component circumferentially so that when the drive and driven side components are rotated the ridges pushes the two springs to make compression deformations successively.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1995Date of Patent: October 29, 1996Assignee: Harada Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kiyoshi Tetsuka
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Patent number: 5525844Abstract: Automotive vehicles equipped with automatic or standard transmissions and having automatically extending and retracting radio antennas are equipped with an arrangement for automatically retracting the antennas upon shifting from drive to neutral. Many car washes are equipped with endless belts or chains which engage and tow automotive vehicles through car washes. Before being towed, the drivers must shift to neutral. Drivers are also advised to lower radio antennas. By causing automatic lowering of radio antennas upon shifting from drive to neutral, drivers need no longer remember to retract their antennas. In order to have the arrangement operate effectively, there is about a 10 second delay in retracting the antennas upon shifting to neutral and extension immediately upon shifting out of neutral. An over-ride is provided should the driver for one reason or another desire to leave the transmission in neutral for a period of time greater than 10 seconds.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Chrysler CorporationInventors: William W. Doolittle, III, Robert G. Malcolm
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Patent number: 5521442Abstract: In a vehicle with a radio, a transmission, a brake, a throttle, a vehicle speed and a power antenna, a method of controlling the power antenna comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether the radio is in an on state; (b) determining if the transmission is one of: (i) in a neutral state and (ii) in an unengaged state; (c) determining if the brake is in an off state; (d) determining if the throttle is in an idle state; (e) determining if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined threshold; and (f) responsive to the determinations, if the radio is in the on state, the transmission is in one of: (i) the neutral state and (ii) the unengaged state, the brake is in the off state, the throttle is in the idle state and the speed is below the predetermined threshold, automatically retracting the power antenna, thereby preventing possible damage to the antenna by the automatic car wash.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1994Date of Patent: May 28, 1996Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Herbert R. Butterfield, Michael D. Rizzo, Clark E. McCall, Joseph A. Heller, James V. Clore, Joseph R. Pastorek, Jonathan M. Rathbun, David C. Poirier
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Patent number: 5448251Abstract: A radiotelephone handset having a tubular telescoping antenna and a slide-open mouthpiece is provided with a mechanical coupling between the mouthpiece and the antenna for automatically extending the antenna when the mouthpiece is opened.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1993Date of Patent: September 5, 1995Assignee: AT&T Corp.Inventors: Irwin Gerszberg, Norman P. Graule, Eugene T. Kendig
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Patent number: 5414436Abstract: An electric extensible car antenna including an antenna element support cylinder detachably mounted to a cylindrical support member of an antenna attachment base from the outside of a car body; a single small-diameter rod antenna element inserted in an antenna element insertion hole of the support cylinder so as to be in contact with a conductive contact element; the proximal part of the antenna element led toward the proximal end of the support cylinder being guided in a direction by an antenna element guiding tube; and an antenna element extended and retracted by a rack-equipped flexible rope connected to the antenna element via an electric mechanism. It is desirable that the antenna element be made of an ultra-flexible material and that the support cylinder is made of a plurality of separate cylindrical units.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1993Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Harada Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Shinkawa, Misao Kimura
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Patent number: 5370334Abstract: An apparatus for driving a rod antenna element for expansion or contraction according to the invention is characterized in that its rotary drum for winding or unwinding a base portion of a rope for expanding or contracting the antenna element is provided with a means for frictionally transmitting rotary force comprising a plurality of minute ridges and recess formed on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft bearing section in order to frictionally and directly or indirectly transmit in part the rotary force of an electric motor to the rotary drum and that the inner rope-sliding peripheral surface of a rope storage area of the rotary drum is flared from the remotest point thereof toward the rope inlet/outlet port to form a peripheral surface of a frustum of cone.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1992Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Shinkawa, Nobuhiko Suzuki, Manabu Sakakibara, Norifumi Ogawa
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Patent number: 5239304Abstract: A three-wave vehicle antenna in which an insulating pipe is connected to the tip of a conducting pipe, and an MT wave antenna element and a coaxial MT wave matching device are housed in the insulating pipe. One end of the coaxial MT wave feeder cable is connected to the matching device and the other end is guided through the conductive pipe which is designed to be used as an AM/FM antenna. The coaxial MT wave feeder cable uses polytetrafluoroethylene, at least for the external insulation member, for covering the outer conductor. With this arrangement it is possible for the three-wave vehicle antenna to check decreases in sensitivity of the AM/FM wave antenna element, since it is feasible to lower the stray capacity between the conductive pipe and the outer conductor of the coaxial MT wave feeder cable without enlarging the diameter of the conductor pipe.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1990Date of Patent: August 24, 1993Assignee: Harada Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshimi Egashira
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Patent number: 5235344Abstract: A drive control apparatus for an electrically-driven type extensible/retractable antenna comprises a control circuit connected to a power supply, a motor controllable by the control circuit to be rotated in a normal or a reverse direction, a multi-threaded type worm provided on an output shaft of the motor, a worm wheel engaging with the worm, a drive gear receiving a rotational force of the worm wheel to allow it to be rotatably driven, a drive rope having a rack in mesh with the drive gear and adapted to be moved in a longitudinal direction upon the rotation of the drive gear, an extensible/retractable antenna element driven by the drive rope to allow it to be extended or retracted, stopper means for mechanically stopping an extending or a retracting motion of the antenna element when the antenna element reaches an extension or a retraction limit, a shock absorber made up principally of an elastic member for alleviating an impact force by which the antenna element is stopped upon collision with the stopperType: GrantFiled: August 6, 1992Date of Patent: August 10, 1993Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Shinkawa, Kiyoshi Tetsuka, Koji Arata, Misao Kimura
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Patent number: 5220341Abstract: An telescoping antenna includes a lower antenna portion and an upper antenna portion to be telescoped into the lower antenna portion. The lower antenna portion includes a cylindrical conductor having an inner cavity for accommodating the upper antenna portion and a coaxial feeder cable. A cylindrical member, which is electrically connected to the cylindrical conductor and the coaxial feeder cable, is provided in the cavity so that a first leakage current is prevented from flowing into the coaxial feeder cable from the cylindrical conductor and that a second leakage current is prevented from flowing into the lower antenna portion from the upper antenna portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1990Date of Patent: June 15, 1993Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toru Yamazaki
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Patent number: 5218375Abstract: An extendible and retractable mast is shown which features a tubular body having telescopic sections carried therein. A travelling carriage is driven by means of a winch over associated sheaves to sequentially engage the trailing ends of the telescopic sections for moving the sections between a collapsed position and any desired degree of elevation projecting from the upper end of the tubular body. A series of locking cams allow each telescopic section to be locked into position at a desired degree of elevation. A power assist is provided for assisting the retraction of the telescopic sections.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1991Date of Patent: June 8, 1993Assignee: Antenna Products CorporationInventor: Darrel D. Hillman
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Patent number: 5214440Abstract: A motor is controlled so that it is not driven to further extend an antenna, even when a worm wheel receives a load from a drive cord and rotates to retract the antenna when the antenna is extended to its maximum length. The rotatable worm wheel for extending or contracting the drive cord is connected to a cam forming a motor operation controlling mechanism in which electricity is intermittently passed to the motor on the basis of the amount of rotation of the worm wheel. The cam can rotate through an angle of play .THETA. provided in the worm wheel to prevent the motor from being driven and the antenna from being extended further.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1992Date of Patent: May 25, 1993Assignee: Mitsuba Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshikazu Takahashi, Yukiteru Hosoya, Akio Konuma
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Patent number: 5212725Abstract: A telephone apparatus for a vehicle comprising a main antenna and a sub-antenna. The sub-antenna is operated to receive incoming electric waves including an incoming call signal. When the sub-antenna receives the incoming call signal or when an outgoing call signal is outputted, the main antenna is extended and an transmitter-receiver of the telephone apparatus is turned on. When the conversation by the telephone apparatus is finished, the main antenna in an extended condition is contracted and received in the vehicle, and the transmitter-receiver is turned off.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1991Date of Patent: May 18, 1993Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhiko Yamamoto, Seiichi Tojo
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Patent number: 5189435Abstract: A retractable motorized multi-band antenna is adapted to receive signals in the AM/FM bands and to receive and transmit signals in a significantly higher frequency band such as that used for cellular telephone. In order to transfer the coaxial input signal to an output coaxial connector, a slip ring connector is provided. The slip ring connector is impedance matched to the antenna to create low VSWR at RF frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1991Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignee: Radio Frequency Systems, Inc.Inventors: George D. Yarsunas, Michael L. Brennan, Frank Duggan
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Patent number: 5187492Abstract: The first structural aspect for mounting a telescopic antenna for an automobile includes a nut surrounding the top end portion of a spacer pipe and engaging with a threaded portion cut on the outside of the top end portion of a base pipe; a flange and a collar provided on a conducting pipe and the spacer pipe respectively and clamped between a contact portion provided on the nut and the top rim of the base pipe; and a flat ring positioned between the flange and the collar. The second structural aspect for mounting a telescopic antenna for an automobile includes resilient protrusions defined on the spacer pipe; holes defined on the conducting pipe, for engaging with the resilient protrusions when the spacer pipe is inserted in the conducting pipe so that the spacer pipe can be kept in position; and a portion around the resilient protrusions having an inside diameter greater than that of the spacer pipe. Both aspects help secure easy sliding of the antenna rods.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1991Date of Patent: February 16, 1993Assignee: Mitsuba Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaei Sato
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Patent number: 5173716Abstract: A device for driving telescopic power antenna for vehicles including a drive cylinder connected to an antenna motor, a driven cylinder which is concentrical with the drive cylinder and controls the extension and retraction of the antenna when rotated by the drive cylinder, and a transmisson mechanism interposed between the drive an driven cylinders. The transmission mechanism includes a projection formed on the drive cylinder, a circular groove formed on the driven cylinder, a coil spring installed in a manner to expand and contract in the direction of the length of the groove, and a pair of arc shaped cores installed in the coil spring. The coil spring and the cores ae compressed by a specific displacement-pressure relationship when the projection moves along the groove and presses one end of the coil spring when a relative rotation occurs between the drive and driven cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1991Date of Patent: December 22, 1992Assignee: Harada Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kiyoshi Tetsuka