Cherry Corporation

Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Daniel J Mattson

Kerry Berland

Roy E Riihimaki

William G Rodseth

Peter D Joseph

James E Mraz

Richard L Dale

Thomas C Herrmann

Michelle D Keimig

Kenneth C Kunin

A printed circuit board (PCB) has a plurality of switch interfaces on its top surface. Each interface is an array of sensors, such as proximity sensors, hall-effect sensors, or a series of inductor coils. The sensors in each array are closely mounted and are all the same for a given PCB. Each array may or may not mount a non-contacting switch selected from a plurality of different types of switches, such as a single push button switch, dual push button switch, a toggle switch, a 3-position rocker switch, a rotary switch, or other type switch. Each switch mounted on the PCB includes one or more indicators for sensing by the sensors or coils, with feedback to determine what type of switch is mounted in each position. The same PCB, or other mount, may thus be used for a variety of unique applications, such as switch packs used in vehicles.

Configurable networked user interface and switch pack

A dual axis magnetic field detector is able to detect the presence of a magnetic field in two axes, such as a rotary axis and a linear axis. The detector includes a magnet for generating a magnetic field and two magnetic field sensors for detecting the strength and angle of the magnetic field as the magnet moves. The sensors may detect the axial and rotary displacement of an object, such as a shaft, to which the magnet is affixed.

Dual axis magnetic field detector and magnets therefor

A vehicle safety system automatically detects the presence of a person sealed in the trunk of an automobile by sensing the COrespiration of the person. Visible, audio and radio alarms are generated in response to the detection of a person in the trunk. If the vehicle is stopped, the trunk will automatically open and allow the person to escape.

System for detecting and releasing a person locked in the trunk of a vehicle

An automotive seat includes optical sensors for determining a load on the seat, such as a person. The sensors may be used with a computer and computer software to analyze data from the sensors in determining a weight of the load, and the sensors may also be used to determine a shape of the load. From the weight and shape of the load, the computer may decide whether the load is suitable for safe deployment of an automatic restraining device, such as an airbag.

Seat for sensing a load

An angular position sensor employs a pair of magnets that are disposed on a rotating cylinder at opposite ends of a diameter of the cylinder. A hall-effect flux sensor is fixed within the cylinder and offset from a line of geometric and magnetic symmetry between the magnets. The offset sensor detects a linear change in flux of the magnets as the magnets rotate with the cylinder over a predetermined angular distance and thereby determines the angular position of the cylinder. The offset of the sensor is adjusted to reduce the sensing error.

Growing community of inventors

Kenosha, WI, United States of America

Daniel J Mattson