The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2006
Filed:
Apr. 20, 2004
Ayumu Kobayashi, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Ayumu Kobayashi, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A stalk switch having a simplified structure and wide general-purpose applicability is provided. The stalk switch comprises an operating levermanually operated by an operator, a supporting memberfor rockably supporting the operating lever, an electromagnetic brakearranged opposite to a base end of the operating lever, an optical image sensorfor detecting the operational state of the operating lever, and controlling meansfor controlling the drive of the electromagnetic brakebased on an output signal a from the optical image sensor, wherein the range of movement of the operating leveris defined by the electromagnetic brake, and a predetermined tactile response corresponding the operational state is given to the operating lever