...that on Dec. 15, 1836, the Patent Office was completely destroyed by fire? Lost were some 7,000 models, 9,000 drawings, and 230 books plus all records of patent applications and grants.
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8164009 | Control knob which operates multiple systems A control knob capable of operating multiple systems has a first rotational body and a second rotational body coaxially arranged, and a shaft connected to the second rotational body. Opposite the shaft, a movable body is moved axially in response to rotation of the ... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8110758 | Mode dial mechanism and electronic device having the same A mode dial device is set in an electrical device. The mode dial device includes a rotary member and a pressure detection module. The rotary member includes a main body, a shaft portion connecting the main body and the electrical device, and a contact portion locate... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8101877 | Rotating dual switching mechanism The present invention provides a rotating dual switching mechanism having a first switch and a first activator with rotational axis, and a second switch having a second activator that is offset from the rotational axis. A ring-shaped actuator is concentric with the ... | 01/24/2012 |
| 7960661 | Multifunctional rotary switch A multifunctional rotary switch for operating an electronic device is providing having a roller with an axis of rotation. The roller has a bidirectional rotational mode of operation where the roller rotates in both a clockwise and counter clockwise direction around ... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7635817 | Combined switch A main body portion has fixed contacts and houses movable contacts. A lower electrode plate and upper electrode plate serving as the movable contacts are deformed at a time of a pressing operation. The upper electrode plate is contactable to the lower electrode plat... | 12/22/2009 |
| 7612305 | Rotating-pressing operation type electronic part and electronic device using this rotating-pressing operation type electronic part A rotating and pressing operation type electronic component that is reduced in the number of parts and man-hour for assembly and reduced in height dimension and floor surface area, comprising a frame formed of first and second bases, a tubular rotatingly operating b... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7572991 | Knob assembly A knob assembly applicable for an electronic device for executing a plurality of default commands is provided, which at least includes a manipulator and a plurality of push switches disposed adjacent to the manipulator, wherein the manipulator performs back and fort... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7557314 | Rotating-pressing operation type electronic part and electronic device using this rotating-pressing operation type electronic part A rotating and pressing operation type electronic component has a reduced size, but without lowering workability, reliability of contact, and operability, wherein an inner contract formed of a tubular conductor and formed by extending, parallel with each other; a pl... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7507920 | Hearing aid with a control element In the case of a hearing aid with a movable control element as compact a structure as possible should be achieved and at the same time a large number of movement cycles of the control element should be possible. To this end it is proposed to connect contacts of the ... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7482543 | Signal generating module A signal generating module is provided. The signal generating module includes a processor, an arcuate elastomer, a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, a first pin, and a second pin. The processor is disposed on the circuit board of an electronic apparatus. ... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7427721 | Compound switch There is provided a compound switch suitable for preventing malfunction as a multidirectional switch caused by an unreasonable turning force applied to a slider, improving the switch operability, and simplifying a switch mounting panel surface. When a transverse pus... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7381912 | Switch device and steering switch device using the same A switch device is provided. The switch device includes a circuit substrate having a fixed contact. A rubber sheet having dome-shaped protuberances is disposed on the circuit substrate. A holder is held moveable in the vertical direction. A rotatable knob is axially... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7348503 | Dial type switch mechanism A dial type switch mechanism is developed in which an installation space can be made as small as possible. In a dial type switch mechanism (10) furnished with a push type switch part provided in its center, and a dial switch part which operates a dial fitted ... | 03/25/2008 |
| RE40161 | Cam operated inverter bypass safety switch An inverter by pass safety switch for rerouting electrical power either through or around AC variable frequency inverter drives during electrical disturbances, thus allowing a motor to continue operation. The switch works in a mechanical fashion, and comprises a con... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7342187 | Rotating input selection device A rotating input selection device is equipped with a rotating input unit, a case member rotatably supporting the rotating input unit, a circuit substrate opposing the rotating input unit, and a contact connection structures formed from a fixed contact point and a mo... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7269103 | Switch device, data-processing apparatus and playback apparatus A tape-shaped switch (500) is provided on a base part (410). Coil springs (460) support a ring-shaped rotational drive section (450) on the position opposed to the switch (500), biasing the same away from the base part (410)... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7262373 | Multifunctional switch A multifunctional switch having a push button placed on an upper surface, and an operating lever protruding laterally from the side thereof. The push button on the upper surface is used to operate a push switch. The operating lever on the side is used to operate a r... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7166810 | Switching device and remote control transmitter using the switching device A switching device and a remote control transmitter using the switching device are provided. In the switching device, a driving body rotating in conjunction with an operation body is provided. This rotation of the driving body provides an electrical contact or separ... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7161102 | Switch device A switch device including a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, a lead-out pattern extending from the second fixed contact to the outside of the first fixed contact, and a movable contact disposed on the first fixed contact and formed of a reversing leaf sp... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7135646 | Electrical switch An electrical switch includes an insulative housing (10), a set of fixed contacts fastened in the housing, a movable contacts (30) received in the housing, a load plate (40) mounted above the movable contact, a spring (50) mounted in the ... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7124648 | Force feedback input device When a knob is turned by a predetermined turning angle α and this angle is detected by a rotary encoder, an electromagnetic brake is activated by a controller and the rotation of the knob is locked. Then, while the knob is locked by the electromagnetic brake, the c... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7119290 | Multi-functional remote control switch on steering wheel A multi-functional remote control switch on a steering wheel includes a housing installed at the steering wheel. A printed circuit board is secured in the housing and formed with a plurality of manipulation switches and switch circuits. A dial is rotatably installed... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7105754 | Multi-functional control assembly for use in electric guitars A multi-functional control assembly having a rotary controller with a push-button switches contained therein. The rotary controller has a shaft. A bore is formed through the shaft. A communicator extends through the bore and is configured to communicate information ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7094980 | Scroll key having a function selecting switch Disclosed is a scroll key integrally formed with a function selecting switch that selects one of at least two functions. The scroll key comprises a circuit board having a circuit provided for a predetermined function, a vertical rotation switch mounted on the circui... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7086292 | Force-feedback input device A force-feedback input device includes a rotatable operating member; a motor which is capable of applying torque to the operating member; a rotary encoder for detecting the rotational angle of the operating member; and a controller for controlling the motor based on... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7079110 | Input device including a wheel assembly for scrolling an image in multiple directions A computer input device having a housing and a finger-engagable scrolling device. A portion of the scrolling device is endlessly rotatable about a first axis to preferably cause vertical scrolling of an image on a display. The scrolling device is pivotally movable r... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7038879 | Electric power supply device of a tape-end detecting sensor for a tape recorder A power supply device of a tape-end detecting sensor for a tape recorder. The power supply device comprises a reel cover disposed on a sub-chassis, with a tape-end detecting sensor being seated on the reel cover for detecting the passing of a terminal end of a magne... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7030326 | Digital wake-up signal from analog signal transition A digital wake-up signal is generated from an analog switch output by providing an interruption in a conductive ground or switch trace on a printed circuit board in which the ground trace and multiple conductive switch traces are bridged by a moveable contactor resp... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7012201 | Rotary encoder A rotary encoder includes a roller having substantially cylindrical shape, an inner shaft, a translucent cylindrical light guide shaft, a pair of holders, a light-emitting device, and a light-detecting device. The inner shaft is inserted and secured to a center hole... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6984794 | Switch device A switch device includes a base member which includes a containing portion, the containing portion having a bottom face, side faces and upper opening, a switching unit which is slidably provided on the bottom face, a cover member which is attached to the base member... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6977350 | Power switching device to enable power switching between single phase power and three phase power An power switching device includes a base with input wires and output wires electrically connected to the base and opposite to the input wires, multiple conducting tubes electrically connected to and orthogonally mounted on the base, and multiple conducting plates e... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6974921 | Combined roller and push switch assembly A combined roller and push switch assembly includes a substantially hollow wheel-like roller member being displaceable from an initial position to a displaced position. The combined roller and push switch assembly further includes a member for returning the roller m... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6967645 | Encoder device combined with a roller An encoder device coupled to a roller or “scroll wheel” includes a mechanism to convert a rotating movement of the roller into a reciprocating movement that causes intermittent electrical conduction between two metal contacts so as to output an intermittent elec... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6967293 | Roller construction module having an error prevention structure The present invention is a roller construction module having an error prevention structure, comprising a base; a roller disposed in said base; two terminals at two opposite ends of the base to be electrically connected with a metal ring in the roller; a first and a ... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6936801 | Methods and apparatus for rotary dial user entry in an appliance A cooking appliance includes a control panel which includes a rotary dial for selecting and entering control information to the cooking appliance, and a control interface for providing a prompt to guide a user through a selection process of the control information. ... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6937228 | Two-axis ball-based cursor control apparatus with tactile feedback A two-axis ball-based cursor control apparatus with tactile feeling is provided, which includes a housing; a spherical ball contained partially within the housing and having a plurality of recesses distributed about its outer surface; two pairs of spring biased sens... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6930959 | Multi-axis wheel scroller and selector An information handling apparatus comprises a scrolling wheel; a platform comprising at least one pivot well; a pivot pin attaching the rolling wheel to the platform and allowing rolling movement of the wheel in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The pivot p... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6906270 | Rotary switch In a combination switch having both rotary and pushbutton momentary switches, a method for determining which switch has been selected by a user. The method also includes distinguishing between the selection of a rotary switch from a pushbutton switch. ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6813509 | Switch A rotary switch is disclosed. The switch has a rotatable barrel which has an axis of rotation. The switch also has an encoder pattern for sensing rotation of the barrel. The encoder pattern extends in a longitudinal direction with respect to the axis of rotation of ... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6809275 | Rotary and push type input device The disclosure describes a button wheel. The button wheel comprises a support frame including a pair of parallel opposed inner surfaces. A platform is nestably mounted in the support frame. The platform includes a pair of parallel opposed outer surfaces forming a pa... | 10/26/2004 |