Sony Corporation

Japan Solderless Terminal Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Omron Corporation

Solderless Terminal Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Yasuhiro Kataoka

Shun Kayama

Terumi Nakashima

Narihiko Hashimoto

Kouichiro Takashima

Tsuyoshi Uchida

Hiroshi Azuma

Yoshihiro Tanabe

Toshitaka Kawashima

Junichi Ohsako

Shigeki Motoyama

Hirokazu Nakayoshi

Kenji Munekata

An information input device is provided which is to make input of information by operating a disk-shaped rotating member. The device includes the rotating member () which is rotatable with one main side thereof being operated, rotation detecting means () for detecting a rotation of the rotating member (), a central switch activator () provided at the center of rotation of the rotating member (), a central switch () which is activated by operating the central switch activator (), and a plurality of peripheral switches () which are turned on when a portion, apart from the center of rotation, of the rotating member () is pressed. Rotating the rotating member and pressing the apart portion makes input of information, and operating the central switch activator sets the information thus entered.

Information input device, and electronic apparatus using same

Information input device, and electronic apparatus using the same

An input device and an electronic apparatus using such an input device capable of providing visual amusement at the time of operating thereof and allowing the down sizing and thinning are provided. The input device has a reversible chromatic layer exhibiting color change in response to temperature change, and a sheet-type input portion laminated on the reversible chromatic layer and activates ON operation upon being pressed.

Input device and electronic apparatus having the same

Touch switch with thermo-chromatic layers

An optical transmission system includes a light emitting device: an optical waveguide portion positioned to and disposed on the light emitting device; and a reflecting means for introducing an optical signal generated by the light emitting device to the optical waveguide portion; wherein the optical waveguide portion has a plurality of cores for transmitting the optical signal and a cladding portion for surrounding the cores; the light emitting device has a plurality of light emitting units for separately generating the optical signals; and the light emitting units are disposed in such a manner as to individually correspond to the cores.

Optical transmission system

Disclosed herein is a drive unit using a shape memory alloy including: a shape memory alloy member made from a shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy member exhibiting superelasticity when being energized; a drive body connected to the shape memory alloy member, the drive body being moved from a stopping position to a specific operational position when the shape memory alloy member is energized; and a locking mechanism for retaining the drive body at the specific operational position. With this configuration, the drive unit using a shape memory alloy is capable of reducing the power consumption as well as miniaturizing the drive unit.

Drive unit using shape memory alloy

The invention provides a thin and small input device that improves a tactile operation sensation and a luxurious appearance. An input device to which an operator enters a desired command by operating it with a finger and which has a case, switch contacts disposed in the case, rotatable operation members disposed rotatably corresponding to the switch contacts that are partially projected from the holes of the case and pressed by an operator, and support members,for supporting the rotatable operation members by pressing it onto the case side and for operating the switch contacts when an operator presses the rotatable operation member against the pressing force.

Input device

A compact electrical connector having a reduced packaging or mounting area includes a housing in which a receptor cavity for receiving a counterpart connector is concavely formed, and contacts fixed in the housing. Each contact includes a contact body that extends in the plug-in direction in which the counterpart connector is received or plugged into the receptor cavity of the housing, and a contact leg that extends outwardly on the base side of the housing. The housing is provided with a slit or slits through side walls thereof to expose the contact bodies to the outside. Thereby the contacts are deflectable. The slits also partially or entirely separate upper and lower portions of the housing from each other, so that the upper housing portion may easily be deflected laterally or rotationally relative to the lower housing portion. Thereby a misalignment-compensating function is achieved.

Connector for printed circuit boards

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Yasuhiro Kataoka