| SMK CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120109409 | INFORMATION PROVIDING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROVIDING SERVER, VEHICLE ASSISTANCE SYSTEM, NAVIGATION DEVICE, AND CHARGING CABLE - It is an object to provide a system for assisting a vehicle on the edge of battery exhaustion. An information providing device includes: an information acquiring part for acquiring the current location of a vehicle and the amount of power stored in a power storage unit of the vehicle from a plurality of vehicles; a vehicle selecting part for selecting one or more vehicles as available vehicles for power supply from the plurality of vehicles based on the respective current locations and the amounts of stored power of the plurality of vehicles, the one or more vehicles to be selected being capable of supplying charging power to a target vehicle requiring charge of its power storage unit; and a notifying part for notifying of an available vehicle for power supply selected by the vehicle selecting part. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120019266 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH PANEL - A capacitive touch panel can select a way of voltage control with a high degree of detection accuracy according to operating environment. In response to approach of an input unit, the stray capacitance of the sensing electrode the input unit approached increases. Accordingly, charge and discharge of the stray capacitances of a plurality of sensing electrodes are controlled, and a sensing electrode the potential change of which is made slow by the increase in stray capacitance and resultant increase in time constant is detected as a sensing electrode the input unit approached. The stray capacitance of a sensing electrode can selectively be controlled either by the charge control or by the discharge control, and optimum one of the controls is selected according to operating environment. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019265 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH PANEL - Changes of the stray capacitances of a large number of sensing electrodes can be detected simultaneously. Further, even if a stray capacitance changes slightly, an input operation to a sensing electrode can be detected based on elapsed time until the electric potential of the sensing electrode becomes the same as a threshold potential. The stray capacitance of a sensing electrode and a resistor of the sensing electrode form a CR time constant circuit. Charge or discharge of the stray capacitance of the sensing electrode is controlled while a rest time in a predetermined time ratio is set. A stray capacitance that slightly increases in response to an input operation made near a sensing electrode can be detected by detecting the stray capacitance in extended elapsed time until the electric potential of the sensing electrode becomes the same as the threshold potential. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110285570 | RADIO COMMUNICATION MODULE, REMOTE CONTROLLER, AND RADIO SYSTEM - A radio remote controller can precisely transfer user's intended control. A radio communication module sends control data for controlling a controlled device by radio communications to provide remote control to the controlled device. The radio communication module includes a communication control section, and a communication section. The communication control section creates transmission data by adding order data indicative of a transmission order to control data to be successively transmitted to the controlled device. The communication section successively outputs the transmission data created by the communication control section via a radio signal. The radio communication module further includes a transmission buffer for storing therein the transmission data. In order to re-transmit the transmission data to the controlled device, the communication control section causes the communication section to output the transmission data stored in the transmission buffer via a radio signal. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285513 | RADIO COMMUNICATION MODULE, REMOTE CONTROLLER, AND RADIO SYSTEM - A radio remote controller precisely transfers user's intended control. A radio communication module transmits control data for controlling a controlled device by radio communications to provide remote control to the controlled device. The radio communication module includes a communication control section, and a communication section. The communication control section creates transmission data by adding repeat information to the control data to be transmitted to the controlled device, with the repeat information being indicative of whether to repeatedly control a function of the controlled device controlled by the control data. The communication section successively outputs the transmission data created by the communication control section via a radio signal. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285512 | RADIO COMMUNICATION MODULE, REMOTE CONTROLLER, AND RADIO SYSTEM - A radio communication module transfers user's control instructions to controlled devices with improved reliability. The module transmits, by radio, control data for controlling a controlled device to provide remote control to the controlled device, a communication section for outputting the control data via a radio signal, a control section, and a data buffer. Without receiving from the controlled device a response signal indicating reception of the control data, the control section causes the communication section to re-deliver the control data via a radio signal until the response is received. The data buffer buffers one or more pieces of new control data to be transmitted to the controlled device until the response is received. Upon reception of the response, the control section causes the communication section to output the one or more pieces of new control data stored in the data buffer via a radio signal. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110279675 | CAMERA MODULE - Manufacture of molded cases of various types is not required even if the molded cases house different numbers of substrates, so that cost of manufacturing camera modules with various functions is reduced. A camera module includes an optical system holder composed of a substrate supporting part in the form of a square box with a down-facing opening, and a cylindrical lens unit fixing part provided integrally with the substrate supporting part and formed at the center of the top of the substrate supporting part. A lens unit is supported in the lens unit fixing part, and an image capturing element holding substrate on which an image capturing element is placed is fixed in the substrate supporting part. A substrate holder is coupled to an end portion of the substrate supporting part of the optical system holder, and a circuit component holding substrate is supported in the substrate holder. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110242030 | METHOD OF OUTPUTTING INPUT POSITION OF TOUCH PANEL - A method of outputting an input position of a touch panel is provided which can output an input position intended by an operator even if two or more different input positions are detected. When an input operation on a position different from a first input position is detected in a scan cycle after output of the first input position, the input position where the new input operation is detected is output as a second input position. Even if input operations on two or more different positions are simultaneously detected, only one input position is output. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110155554 | METAL DOME PUSH BUTTON SWITCH - A push button switch using a metal dome is provided that can ensure stable contact between the metal dome and fixed electrodes without using a through-hole in a PCB, can maintain the stable contact even after being operated many times, and can be obtained at low cost. The push button switch includes: a central electrode to which a circuit trace is connected without using a through-hole and with which the apex of the metal dome comes into contact when the push button switch is depressed; and an annular electrode with which the outer circumference of the metal dome is in contact. These fixed electrodes are printed with a conductive ink on the PCB, and the springy metal dome is placed over these fixed electrodes. The structure of the printed layers is identical over the entire region of the annular electrode with which region the metal dome is in contact. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110136392 | PLUG - A plug includes a plug housing and a metal terminal group. The metal terminal group includes a mating electrode group on the first end side thereof and a connection electrode group on the second end side, the mating electrode group including mating electrode sections that are disposed with an insulating resin interposed therebetween and are to be in contact with the contacts of a mating jack, the connection electrode group including connection electrode sections that are disposed with an insulating resin interposed therebetween and are connected to the electrodes of a connection member. The mating electrode sections are disposed coaxially with an axis P of the plug, and at least two of the connection electrode sections are disposed around the axis P so as to surround the axis P side by side. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110117786 | LED ILLUMINATION APPARATUS - Parts exchange or the like is not easy with an LED illumination apparatus that uses an LED attached to a socket of a conventional fluorescent light fixture. Or if there is no problem in parts exchange, other problems exist such as unfavorable operability and reliability, and necessitating additional parts. Provided herewith is an LED illumination apparatus including: a cap having a terminal electrically coupled to a socket of a fluorescent light fixture; and a main body having an end coupled with the cap, where the main body includes: an LED; and a coupler to electrically couple the terminal to the LED, the coupler being fitted in the cap, the cap includes a cap-side connecting section having flexibility or elasticity to electrically couple the terminal to the coupler, the coupler includes a main-body-side connecting section to electrically couple the LED to the cap-side connecting section, and by means of the flexibility or the elasticity, the cap-side connecting section removably couples the cap to the coupler. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110117785 | LED ILLUMINATION APPARATUS - Parts exchange or the like is not easy with an LED illumination apparatus that uses an LED attached to a socket of a conventional fluorescent light fixture. Other problems also exist such as unfavorable operability and reliability, and necessitating additional parts. Provided herewith is an LED illumination apparatus including a cap having a terminal electrically coupled to a socket of a fluorescent light fixture and a main body having an end coupled with the cap, where the main body includes an LED and a coupler to electrically couple the terminal to the LED, the terminal being fitted in the coupler. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110104959 | PRESS-CONTACT POGO PIN CONNECTOR - A press-contact pogo pin connector is provided which has a machining cost lower than those of conventional connectors, can be easily reduced in height, and does not cause instantaneous interruption. A molded insulating housing has a cylinder hole in which a pin is installed, and the pin installed inside the cylinder hole is urged by a coil spring installed inside the cylinder hole so as to protrude from the housing. A flange portion on the rear side of the pin urged by the coil spring abuts against the peripheral portion of the front opening of the cylinder hole on the front side of the housing so that the pin is prevented from falling off. A contact integrally includes a substrate connection terminal portion and a contact spring portion that extends inside the cylinder hole and is brought into press-contact with the pin at all times. The contact is secured to the housing. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110102343 | HOLDING STRUCTURE FOR A TOUCH PANEL - A holding structure for a touch panel has a display panel for configuring a display screen and a touch panel for allowing input operation. The structure has an elastic supporting frame for holding the display panel at an entire peripheral edge and supporting the touch panel in parallel with the display panel. The structure has piezoelectric devices for applying vibration to the touch panel in accordance with the operation of the touch panel. The structure has a casing for holding the display panel and the touch panel by way of the elastic supporting frame and the casing has an opening through which the touch panel is exposed. The elastic supporting frame holds the touch panel at an entire peripheral edge of the touch panel and includes a plurality of touch panel supporting portions for supporting the touch panel at a side edge of a rear surface of the touch panel. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110102342 | HOLDING STRUCTURE FOR A TOUCH PANEL - A holding structure for a touch panel has a display panel, a touch panel for allowing an input operation, a supporting frame for holding the display panel at an entire peripheral edge a piezoelectric device for applying vibration to the touch panel in accordance with the operation of the touch panel, a casing for holding the display panel and the touch panel via the supporting frame, and a flexible resin sheet integrally provided to the front surface side of the touch panel. The flexible substrate is formed to have a size entirely larger than a glass substrate on a rear surface side of the touch panel. The peripheral edge of the flexible substrate is held by a rear surface of a peripheral edge of the opening of the casing and a supporting member fixed to the casing. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110102341 | HOLDING STRUCTURE FOR A TOUCH PANEL - A holding structure for a touch pane has a display panel for forming a display screen, a touch panel for allowing an input operation, a piezoelectric device for applying vibration to the touch panel in accordance with the operation of the touch panel, a casing for accommodating the display panel and the touch panel and a protective sheet having a size larger than the touch panel. The casing has an opening through which the touch panel is exposed. The protective sheet is applied to an entire front surface of the touch panel. The protective sheet has a non-bonded portion at a peripheral edge. The non-bonded portion is not bonded partly to at least one of a peripheral edge of the touch panel and a peripheral edge of the opening of the casing. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110053393 | MINUTE CONNECTOR - A minute connector is provided with a first connecting member and a second connecting member. The first connecting member has a first conductive portion disposed at each of the bottom surface of a plurality of recessing portions set at an insulative first substrate connected to first ends, and first contacts made of first carbon nanotube bundles protruding from the surface of a first substrate at second ends. The second connecting member has second contacts made of second carbon nanotube bundles connected to second conductive portions disposed at each of the bottom surface of recessing portions set at an insulative second substrate corresponding to each of the first contacts at first ends. Each of the first carbon nanotubes contacts between the second carbon nanotubes with each other in an overlapping manner at the state that the first contacts are contacted with each of the corresponding second contacts. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20100258157 | WATERTIGHT CONNECTOR AND PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATING APPARATUS - A watertight connection includes a male side and female side pair of terminal fittings. Each of the terminal fittings is mounted to an end part of an electrical line. Plug housings having male side and female side terminal fittings of two poles are correspondingly mounted, male side-to-male side and female side-to-female side. Insulation members each house a rear end part of a plug housing and an end part of an electrical lines. A sealing material member prevents moisture from penetrating into the insulation member. Openings, which expose the front end part of each plug housing outside of the insulation member, are formed in an inner wall surface of the insulation member. An outer circumferential surface of the rear end part of each of the plug housings is brought into close contact with the sealing material member to couple the plug housings and the insulation member in a watertight state. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100238129 | OPERATION INPUT DEVICE - Provided is an operation input device having a first substrate, a first conductive film provided on the first substrate, a second substrate that is provided opposing the side of the first conductive film on the first substrate and have flexibility to be deformed according to pressing strength applied to the film, a second conductive film that is provided on the second substrate at a side opposing the first substrate, and a spacer provided on the first conductive film at the side opposing the second conductive film. The resistance value between the first conductive film and the second conductive film varies according to a contact area between the films. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100238115 | OPERATION INPUT DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Provided is an operation input device having an input part that receives operator input by being pressed by an operator, a function setting part that allocates predetermined operation functions to a second domain in the input part based upon a position pressed when the operator presses a first domain in the input part, a display control part that displays display objects corresponding to the operation functions in a domain of the display part corresponding to the second domain, an operation judgment part that judges whether the operator has pressed the second domain; and a vibration control part that vibrates the input part according to the operation function when the operation judgment part judges that the operator has pressed the second domain. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100157556 | Surface mounting lug terminal and method for mounting the same - A surface mounting lug terminal formed of a metallic plate having terminal leads and positioning projections can readily be positioned on a printed board with high precision by fitting the positioning projections into positioning cutouts formed in the printed board. The terminal leads of the surface mounting lug terminal can easily be soldered to land patterns on the printed board to secure the surface mounting lug terminal onto the printed board irrespective of the number of terminal leads. The surface mounting lug terminal can be reduced in size, thus to contribute miniaturization of electronic circuits. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100111201 | POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A power line communication system which enables high quality communication, utilizing a pair of power lines | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100053464 | STATIONARY REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMITTING DEVICE - In a controlling mode wherein control content for rotational operation control of a controlled device has been selected through an inputting operation of an inputting switch, a displaying unit that is provided on a surface of a case that is displayed on the rotational center axis side of an operating unit displays the rotational operation directions for rotational operation control, to perform rotational operation control of a controlled device in a rotational operation direction displayed on the displaying unit by a rotational operation of an operating unit in a direction that matches the rotational operation direction that is displayed on the displaying unit. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100052938 | STATIONARY REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMITTER - The rotation operation plane of the ring-shaped operation members that operate the rotation is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the rotation operation of the ring-shaped operation member can be performed without holding a finger in the vertical direction. Furthermore, since the rotation operation plane is inclined with respect to the placement plane of the case, static friction on the placement plane is generated by a force component of the operation force acting on the rotation operation plane and is perpendicular to the placement plane, thus the case does not move toward the rotation operation direction during the rotation operation. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100052937 | REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMITTING DEVICE - An annular operation unit is formed as an outer shape to cover entire outline of a surface of a case, and inputting switches and displaying unit are attached inside of an opening at the center side of the annular operation unit, allowing the annular operation unit to have a size to perform fine rotational operations in case the entire size of the remote control transmitting device is miniaturized. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100032271 | SWITCH - A switch having terminals that provide from side surfaces of a switch housing for mounting on a substrate. Through-holes are provided in the terminals. A main body is installed in a cutaway part of the substrate to form a gap between the housing side surface and the cutaway part. When soldering a solder connection surface of the terminal to the solder mounting surface of the substrate, flux flows out to a substrate end surface through a space formed continuously between each through-hole and the gap, such that there is no penetration of flux into the interior of the switch. As a result, contact operation is made stable. In addition, the solder connection strength is also improved by forming a solder fillet on the interior surface of the through-hole. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20090286410 | MODULE SOCKET - A low-profile module socket includes a socket housing, which is open at a module insertion surface and at an opposing surface, and includes peripheral wall parts and a plurality of contacts. Each contact connects at one end to a module on the inside of the socket housing and at another end to an electronic circuit substrate on the outside of the socket housing. Module securing members are formed from a metal plate and configured to contact and electrically ground a camera module provided in the socket housing. The module securing members latch at least to the pair of peripheral wall parts that oppose shield side wall parts arranged along an inner surface of the peripheral wall parts. A bottom surface plate part is formed in a single body with a pair of module securing members such that the module securing members mutually interlock at the module insertion opposing surface side. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090267902 | Touch Panel - There is provided a touch panel which has a simple configuration and which can be accurately and reliably operated. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090267897 | REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMITTER - A remote control transmitter detects motion in a specific direction or in a rotational direction around a specific axis: The transmitter includes a battery placed on a bottom surface side within a case containing circuitry of the transmitter. The bottom surface side has a convex surface, with a center of curvature C coincident in the upward direction of the force of gravity above a center of gravity G of the transmitter. When placed on a flat surface, the transmitter assumes a stable orientation such that when the transmitter is grasped in order to perform a motion-based operation, it can be can be assumed that the vertical direction is the direction of the line joining the center of curvature C of the stable portion to the center of mass G, as an absolute direction for reference in detecting the motion operation. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090266625 | COORDINATE INPUT DEVICE - A coordinate inputting device includes an X+ electrode having a plurality of X+ branch patterns extending from one side to the other side in the X direction, an X− electrode having a plurality of X− branch patterns extending from one side to the other side in the X direction, a Y+ electrode having a plurality of Y+ branch patterns extending from one side to another side in the Y direction, and a Y− electrode having a plurality of Y− branch patterns extending from one side to the other side in the Y direction. An X, Y coordinate position of an object is detected from, respectively, the difference between the floating capacitances of the X+ electrode and X− electrode, and the difference between the floating capacitances of Y+ electrode and Y− electrode, which change according to the surface area of the electrodes in proximity to the object to be detected. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090266622 | INSTRUCTION INPUTTING DEVICE - An instruction inputting device detects input operations in the XY plane and in a rotational direction on a hemispherical input operation surface. Four detection electrodes insulated from each other are formed at 90° intervals around the Z axis of the hemisphere, on the surface of a spherical crown-shaped insulator. Surface areas of each of the detection electrodes decrease moving toward an apex P on the Z axis and moving in a circumferential direction away from the positions at which the 90° intervals are formed. As a result, the surface areas of the detection electrodes facing an object to be detected for causing the input operation differ depending on the positioning of the object, thereby causing differences in the floating capacitances of the detection electrodes which are sensed by a circuit portion of the device. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090264008 | CONNECTOR HAVING FLOATING STRUCTURE - A connector assembly having a floating structure includes a connector moveably mounted in a cradle housing. A part of this connector connects to and detaches from another connector facing, through a spacing, a connector-mounting window of the cradle housing. The connector on the moveable side is moveable freely within the range of the spacing. An elastic member of flexible material is provided on the exterior of the moveable-side connector and closely contacts and is housed in a housing part formed in the cradle housing. An elastic member restoring force, acting when coupling between the moveable-side connector and the other connector is released, causes the moveable-side connector to return its original position in the cradle housing. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090246996 | RIGHT-ANGLE CONNECTOR - A connector forms a connection by inserting a socket connector and a plug connector into a housing. The housing is configured by integrally forming a plug insertion recessed part and a socket insertion recessed part in an L shape. A socket terminal of the socket connector, which is inserted in a socket insertion recessed part, is connected to and pinched by a plug terminal of the plug connector, which is inserted in and attached to the plug insertion recessed part. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090237115 | SINGLE-PHASE 3-WIRE POWER LINE CONNECTION DETERMINATION APPARATUS AND CONNECTION DETERMINATION METHOD - In a method for determining whether multiple power outlets in a 3-wire power line connection are connected to a same outer wire (P | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090207039 | CEC CONTROL APPARATUS - A Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) control apparatus includes a vendor code acquisition instruction unit that queries a CEC device for a vendor code when connected to a CEC device, a control part provided with a storage unit capable of storing the reference location of stored CEC control information that corresponds to the acquired vendor code, a control information storage part which, for each vendor, pre-stores CEC control information corresponding to a plurality of vendors, and a photoreceptor unit having a received signal demodulation unit capable of receiving a signal from a remote control RC and demodulating the signal to acquire a CEC control signal. Based on the acquired vendor information, the control part acquires from the control information storage part control information corresponding to the vendor corresponding to the control signal transmitted from the remote control RC, and outputs the CEC control signal to the externally connected CEC device. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090134948 | PULSE MODULATION METHOD - A pulse modulation method divides code comprising 4N-bit data into 2-bit units of data. For each pulse signal having a fixed pulse width tw, a code modulated signal is generated by pausing between pulse pause intervals Tr. An adjusted time width of between ½ and 1 times the fixed pulse width tw is taken to be Δt. One of time widths 0, Δt, 2Δt, and 3Δt is added to a fixed pause period tm of time intervals according to a corresponding value of the 2-bit data. If the sum total time TD of the code modulated signal is an interval of at least [(2tw+2tm+3Δt)N+Δt], each pulse pause interval Tr is substituted by a pulse pause interval Tr corresponding to the inverted 2-bit data. An inversion flag signal expresses that inversion information is added to the code modulated signal. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090067145 | CIRCUIT PATTERN DESIGNING METHOD, WHEREIN AN ELECTROCONDUCTIVE COATING MATERIAL IS USED, AND A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD - In a method of preparing a circuit pattern on a printed circuit board, reflow wiring is performed by printing the circuit pattern on an insulative board with an electroconductive coating material and printing a cream solder in a wiring pattern portion of the circuit pattern to form a metal conductor. Other portions of the printed, electroconductive coating material are arranged to function as any one of a resistor (R), a capacitor (C), and a coil (L), by taking advantage of the resistance and electrostatic capacitance of the electroconductive coating material. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090036002 | CONNECTOR TERMINAL - A connector terminal for insertion in a terminal storage chamber of a connector housing has a terminal housing body that is formed by bending a plate material into a somewhat cylindrical form. A plurality of stabilizers are erected in at least three positions directed radially away from a centerline running along an insertion direction of the terminal housing body such that the terminal housing body is rotatable about the centerline. At least one stabilizer is formed by outwardly bending a portion of the plate material that runs along the insertion direction of the terminal housing body, and at least another stabilizer is formed by making a cut from the side wall of the terminal housing body. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090035975 | CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION - A connector of the engagement connection type using a plug and socket includes at least a plug pin for the plug and a socket terminal for the socket on one side. A projection of at least one of the plug pin and socket terminal projects toward a connection surface of the other one of the plug pin and socket terminal. The projection is affixed to elastic contact arm that exerts an elastic force toward a contact surface of the other one of the plug pin and socket terminal. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20080302859 | METHOD OF REFLOW SOLDERING A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD WHEREIN AN ELECTROCONDUCTIVE COATING MATERIAL IS USED - A reflow soldering method for use with circuit patterns and land patterns formed by an electoconductive coating material. Reflow soldering is performed in an air atmosphere within a range of 150°-190° C. and with a preheating time set within a range of 60±30 sec. Alternatively, preheating is performed in a nitrogen atmosphere. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080302562 | PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD - A circuit is printed on a circuit board material, which does not have a copper foil layer and does have a paper base material is impregnated with a resin, using an electroconductive coating material. The board material preferably is a paper phenol board material, wherein the paper base material is impregnated with phenol resin, on which a resist layer is formed and a circuit is printed on the resist layer using an electroconductive coating material. | 12-11-2008 |
