Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Itw Electronic Business Asia Co. Ltd.

Brian J Truesdale

Kenneth A Albrecht

Slawomir Kielian

Terence J Knowles

Michael S Pedersen

Arif Oguz

Mario M Orrico

Mohammad Masghati

Charles F Bremigan, Iii

James C Fournier

Earl J Genz

Michael J Hall

Steven C Crusius

David F Schieleit

Nicholas Sato

YuJen Lo

Richard T Halliday

YuHsun Wu

Tm Narasimhan

Gerald W Hill

Donald L Sweeney

Terrence J Knowles

Julie Rutkowski

Slawomir P Kielian

An ultrasonic sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an aerated fluid includes a probe having a first solid portion and a second hollow portion. The probe has a closed end at the hollow portion. The solid portion and the hollow portion define an interface therebetween. A transducer element is mounted to the probe at about the solid portion. The transducer element is configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal through the solid portion into the hollow portion and to receive reflections of the ultrasonic signal to determine the presence or absence of a fluid and/or an aerated fluid.

Ultrasonic level sensor for aerated fluids

An ultrasonic liquid-height detector employs conductive rods extending from a housing, and corresponding transducers, into a liquid, where elastic seals surround the rods at their exit point from the housing. Acoustic crosstalk between the rods through the seals and the housing (rather than through the liquid) is minimized by displacing the seals from each other as measured through the housing to increase a path length through the housing so that the crosstalk energy is delayed with respect to the direct energy indicating liquid height. A sampling window is positioned to sample transmitted sound across the rods at a time before the arrival of the crosstalk energy.

Liquid level sensor with improved temperature range

A level sensor for determining the presence or absence of a liquid in contact with the sensor includes an elongate probe, a transducer operably connected to the probe and configured to produce compressional waves in the probe, and circuitry for detecting acoustic energy emitted into the liquid when liquid is in contact with the probe. A mount for the releasably holding the sensor includes a base have a receiving region formed in part by a plurality of flexible securing fingers. The fingers have locking projections extending therefrom. A contact is mounted to the base and extends into the receiving region. A cartridge supports the level sensor and is received in the receiving region. The cartridge includes a circumferential recess for receiving the securing fingers. When the level sensor is positioned in the cartridge and the cartridge is inserted into the base, the level sensor is operably connected to the contact and the cartridge is resiliently secured in the base.

Discrete fluid level sensor and mount

A fastener includes a main body having a front portion and a rear portion, a securing member engageable with the rear portion of the main body, and a light source unit securable between the securing member and the front portion of the main body, for providing light to illuminate the front portion of the main body.

Fastener with illuminator

A self-diagnostic acoustic wave touch actuated switch assembly includes a substrate having an acoustic wave cavity, a transducer operatively connected to the acoustic wave cavity, a processing unit, and at least one light emitting member operatively connected to the processing unit. The transducer is configured to generate a trapped acoustic wave within the acoustic wave cavity. The processing unit is operatively connected to one or both of the acoustic wave cavity and/or the transducer. The processing unit may be configured to activate the at least one light emitting member when the processing unit detects one or both of a switch malfunction and/or a potential switch malfunction.

Self-diagnostic switch

A pressure sensitive acoustic wave sensor and actuator include an acoustic wave cavity fo&#x3c0;ned in a substrate, a transducer generating an acoustic wave substantially trapped in the acoustic wave cavity and an acoustic wave absorbing member that absorbs more acoustic wave energy in the acoustic wave cavity in response to increased pressure on the member. The speed and/or braking of an electric vehicle is controlled through operator input of a foot pedal, using the pressure sensitive acoustic wave sensor.

Accelerator/brake control using acoustic sensing

Embodiments of the present invention provide a trapped acoustic wave system and a method of assembling such a system. The system may include a substrate having an acoustic wave cavity and a transducer mounted on the substrate. The transducer is configured to resonate the acoustic wave cavity. An acoustically transmissive adhesive secures a first portion of the transducer to the substrate. An additional adhesive, which is separate and distinct from the acoustically transmissive adhesive, anchors at least a second portion of the transducer to the substrate.

System and method of assembling a trapped acoustic wave system

A switch assembly comprising a body, an actuator, and a base design to provide a device that can actuate various Hall-Effect chip devices in a single design. The switch assembly of the invention may provide a momentary switch connection, such as a single push system, or a maintained switch connection, such as a push-push system. Further, the switch assembly may include feedback mechanisms, such as LED components and the like that provide a visible feedback of the switch connection, and tactile feedback components that also indicate the switch connection.

Switch assembly

A switch assembly includes a unitary push button housing including an actuable button, a retainer having a first surface and a second surface, in which the retainer is secured within the push button housing, a snap dome secured on the first surface of the retainer, and at least one terminal passing through the second surface of the retainer to the first surface. The button is configured to be actuated into the snap dome, so that the snap dome is urged into contact with the terminal.

Push button switch assembly

There is provided a surge protector assembly for use with a 66-M type terminal connector block having a plurality of parallel rows of opposed terminals which are laterally spaced apart from each other. The surge protector assembly includes a housing module formed of co-mating front and back halves. A miniature printed circuit board is disposed within the housing module. Surge protector devices, a protector-operational status indicator circuitry, and a ground-connected status indicator circuitry are disposed on the miniature printed circuit board. A plurality of tip/ring terminal contacts are disposed within a lower portion of the housing module for mating with corresponding ones of the opposed terminals of the 66-M type terminal connector block.

Surge protector assembly with ground-connector status indicator circuitry

A push-button switch includes a universal assembly comprising a single body design, a single plunger design, and a single base design to provide various switch options in an overall single package design. The push-button switch of the invention may be operated by either a mechanical switch assembly or a hall-effect system. The push-button switch may also provide a momentary switch connection, such as a single push system, or a maintained switch connection, such as a push-push system. Further, the push-button switch may include feedback mechanisms, such as LED components and the like that provide a visible feedback of the switch connection, and tactile feedback components that also indicate the switch connection.

Push-button switch

A voltage and/or surge-current protector and grounding bar arrangement is provided for use with a BIX connector block having two rows of terminals which are laterally spaced with respect to each other so as to form a longitudinally extending channel therebetween. The arrangement includes a housing for receiving voltage and/or surge-current protector devices, four tip/ring terminal contacts, a ground contact and a disconnect arrangement. A grounding bar is disposed within the elongated opening of the BIX connector block and extends generally throughout the length thereof. The ground contact includes two prongs which extend vertically and externally of the housing for connection to a corresponding hole in the grounding bar. The disconnect arrangement allows for testing and line-servicing without removal of the voltage and/or surge-current protector devices from the BIX connector block.

Dual sneak current protector

The control knob engages, on its interior, a translucent polycarbonate jewel body collar assembly of a first color, such as white, which, in turn, provides a housing for a translucent polycarbonate jewel LED holder assembly. The LED emits light, possibly modified by the jewel LED holder assembly, of a second color, such as blue or blue-green. This second color can be varied in intensity and hue by varying the polarity and resistance of the LED. The jewel body collar assembly includes a collar to engage the interior cylindrical support section of the control knob and a housing assembly to engage the jewel LED holder assembly. The jewel body collar assembly further includes a ridge which protrudes through a slot in the sidewall and front face of the control knob thereby forming an indicator for the control knob. In ambient illumination, such as during the day, the indicator appears to be the color of the jewel body collar assembly, such as white. However, when the LED is electrically illuminated, such as during the night, the illumination passes through the jewel LED holder assembly, and the resulting color, such as blue or blue-green, is projected through the ridge of the jewel body collar assembly and the indicator appears to be blue or blue-green. An alternative embodiment mounts the LED on a mount assembly which is fastened to the control shaft and which extends into the interior of the control knob.

Growing community of inventors

Wauconda, IL, United States of America

Brian J Truesdale