Nidec Motor Corporation

Emerson Electric Company

Thomas A Neese

Stephen M Jones

John Riden Suriano

James Patrick Meagher

Charles V Edwards

Shakim S Qureshi

Jon Everhart

Barry Monroe Newberg

Raymond D Heilman

William R Lewis

David E Zink

Robert D O'Neil

A crank assembly for displacing a load includes a motor and a displacement arm assembly. The motor includes a rotatable output shaft that defines a rotation axis. The displacement arm assembly includes a swingable crank arm and a support roller bearing. The swingable crank arm is coupled to the output shaft to swing about the rotation axis when the output shaft rotates. The swingable crank arm defines a pivot end adjacent the rotation axis and an opposite displacement end. The support roller bearing is rotatably supported on the swingable crank arm proximate the displacement end. The support roller bearing is configured to engage the load. The support roller bearing defines a bearing axis, which is substantially parallel to and offset from the rotation axis.

Support roller bearing regreasing arrangement for high load crank assembly

Indicator circuit having a backlight and an indicator light associated with a graphical element. The graphical element is adapted to be illuminated by the indicator light for indicating an active vehicle function as well as backlit by the backlight. A switch coupled to the backlight selectively turns OFF the backlight in response to a drive signal supplied by the indicator light. In this manner, the backlight is OFF when the graphical element is illuminated by the indicator light.

Vehicle indicator circuit having controlled backlighting

Rotary switches and associated methods. A rotary switch can include one or more arcuate passages which are prone to ingress of particulate or liquid contaminants. A gasket, a rib, and/or a lubricant reservoir can be provided in the arcuate passages for blocking ingress of contaminants to an interior of the switch.

Rotary switch

An electric switch assembly comprises a circuit board; a light source mounted on the circuit board; a thumbwheel knob rotatably mounted on the circuit board; a transparent surface that moves with the thumbwheel knob and on which a symbol is applied or formed; and a light guide for directing light from the light source to the transparent surface to illuminate the symbol.

Illuminated thumbwheel switch assembly

A switch assembly for triggering the release of a door latch that provides improved tactile feedback to a user when actuated is disclosed. The switch assembly provides a tactile response to the user that indicates proper actuation by the force feedback that is provided to the user as the button is displaced during actuation. The switch assembly includes an elastomeric button and a base supporting the button. An electrically conductive static contact is supported by the base. An electrically conductive moveable contact, also supported by the base, is operatively disposed between the button and the static contact. A film is disposed over the moveable contact and fixed to the edge of the base, sealing both contacts from the atmosphere. The film thereby effectively divides the interior of the switch assembly into an open first chamber located between the film and the button, and a closed second chamber located between the film and the base.

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, IN, United States of America

Thomas A Neese