John Zdanys

US Patent:

6414584, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

Sep 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/405548

Inventors:

Shengli Liu - Elkhart IN
John Zdanys - Elkhart IN
Norman C. Weingart - Elkhart IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

H01H 6304

US Classification:

338202, 324699, 29595, 29622

Abstract:

An electrical brush wiper for use in a position sensor to contact an electrically resistive surface. The wiper has a metallic beam having a channel. The channel is formed from a pair of parallel extending flanges. One of the flanges is attached to the beam. Carbon fibers are secured within the channel between the flanges. The flanges have several tabs for securing the fibers in the channel. The tabs can be welded to the flanges.

US Patent:

46200770, Oct 28, 1986

Filed:

Feb 19, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/703197

Inventors:

John Zdanys - Elkhart IN
Tony J. Zaderej - Elkhart IN
Matthew A. Robbins - Elkhart IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

H01H 1708

US Classification:

200331

Abstract:

An integral switch connector with remote actuator has a plurality of conductive terminals disposed within a switch housing. A slide member is remotely biased to make or break contact between contact arms to switch voltage between terminals. A connector disposed within switch housing provides connection to a remote apparatus. The remote actuator has a snap-action feature, to bias the slide member independently of the speed of movement of the manual biasing means. Movement of the actuator assembly biases a non-conductive actuator rod disposed within a non-conductive sleeve, to bias the slide member within the switch housing to make or break electrical communication between terminals. A spring disposed between the slide member and the switch housing breaks electrical contact between terminals should the actuator rod fail. A link coupling provides a removable connection between rod and sleeve at a location between actuator and switch assemblies.

US Patent:

45298513, Jul 16, 1985

Filed:

Jun 30, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/509314

Inventors:

Durward H. Priebe - Paso Robles CA
Norman C. Weingart - Elkhart IN
John Zdanys - Elkhart IN
Jack A. English - Elkhart IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

H01H 1524

US Classification:

200 16D

Abstract:

A machine insertable miniature DIP switch (10) comprises a housing (12) insert molded about a plurality of terminals (40). The terminals (40) are oppositely disposed pairs having interior portions (44) located within housing chambers (30) formed by transversely extending walls (20), with the ends of the pairs of terminals separated by an open area (A) comprising a depression. An actuator (60) includes an upward extension (64) above a top plate (62) with a contactor receptacle (66) located therebelow, a depending detent wall (68) with a detent protrusion (70) on one side of the actuator, and an oppositely disposed depending actuator side wall (72). The detent protrusion (70) is received by detent openings (22) within the associated transverse wall (20), top plate extensions (63) are positioned over the associated transverse wall, and the oppositely disposed actuator side wall (72) is positioned for engagement with a shelf (24) located in the associated transverse wall. A contactor (80) comprises a U-shaped upper portion (82) received in the actuator receptacle (66) to effect a self-leveling, load equalizing coupling, and a lower portion comprising a plurality of outwardly extending legs (84), each leg (84) having an arcuate foot (86, 87) at an end thereof. The arcuate feet (86, 87) engage the interior terminal portions (44) whereby lateral displacement of the actuator (60) effects constant pressure slideable engagement of the contactor (80) with the terminals (40) to complete or open an electrical circuit therebetween, without the contactor feet (86, 87) engaging any housing material.

US Patent:

46545220, Mar 31, 1987

Filed:

Feb 10, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/828586

Inventors:

Robert F. Gornick - Edwardsburg MI
John Zdanys - Elkhart IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G01D 534

US Classification:

250231SE

Abstract:

A miniature position encoder (10) provides means for transducing angular changes in shaft (60) position to an electrical output representing the Gray code. The miniature position encoder (10) comprises an annular housing (12) having an aperture (14) with a bushing (20) disposed therein opposite an open end (18) of the housing (12), a plurality of light emitting diodes (50) disposed in non-linear alignment in a substrate (40) mounted adjacent the bushing (20), and a metallic shaft (60) journalled within the bushing opening (15) and having a metallic logic disk (70) secured at one end, the logic disk having a plurality of radially spaced and angularly limited openings representing the Gray code. A window disk (110) is mounted within the housing cavity (28) and adjacent the logic disk (70) for the purpose of restricting the amount of light emitted by each of the light emitting diodes (50), and a plurality of phototransistors (100) are mounted upon a substrate (90) positioned at the open end (18) of the housing and adjacent the window disk (110), with a cover (120) enclosing the open end of the housing. Rotation of the shaft (60) effects rotation of the attached logic disk (70) which modulates the light passing through the openings within the logic disk, whereby the Gray code is transmitted as an eight bit parallel output code received by light receptors (100).

US Patent:

39447600, Mar 16, 1976

Filed:

Apr 8, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/458505

Inventors:

John Zdanys - Edwardsburg MI
William L. Kelver - Cassopolis MI

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

H01H 1502
H01H 2704

US Classification:

200 6BB

Abstract:

A switch assembly provides a plurality of slide switches. Each switch employs a flexible guide rod cantilevered within a common housing providing a first contact. A second contact is biased into electrical contact with each guide rod and an insulative cam carried by a switch actuator is supported by each guide rod for rectilinear movement therealong in an interference path with the second contact to separate the second contact from the guide rod. The flexible guide rod is movable with respect to the second contact and provides the means to align the switch actuator and the cam in an interference path with the second contact. Each switch actuator provides a pair of side walls enclosing a respective guide rod and second contact suspended therebetween.

US Patent:

43202675, Mar 16, 1982

Filed:

Jun 30, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/164781

Inventors:

James E. Greve - South Bend IN
John Zdanys - Edwardsburg MI

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

H01H 900
H01H 2176

US Classification:

200 4

Abstract:

A multiple-function electrical switch has an automatic return to an initial position upon release of the shaft (60). An annular drive (70) mounted upon the shaft (60) has a rotary contactor (100) and momentary switch contacts (90,92) secured thereto, and a torsional spring (110) is mounted in a cover (36) enclosing one end of the housing (11). As the shaft is rotated, a tongue (78) on the driver (70) engages the torsional spring (110) which will effect return of the driver and shaft to its initial position upon release of the shaft. The tongue (78) is received in a pocket (56) located in the cover (36) such that the shaft (60) may be moved axially at only one rotational position, such movement effecting engagement between the momentary switch contacts (90,92) and terminals (44,46) disposed in the cover. The housing is insert molded about a collector (12) and terminals (14, 16, 18, 20, 22), the collector having a stepped portion (28 ) engaged by the rotary contactor (100) to provide a detent as the user rotates the contactor from a first selected terminal to a second selected terminal.

US Patent:

60182415, Jan 25, 2000

Filed:

Feb 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/025015

Inventors:

James E. White - Warsaw IN
Jeffrey L. McCurley - Elkhart IN
John Zdanys - Elkhart IN
Craig A. Jarrard - Middlebury IN
Robert J. Campbell - Granger IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G01B 714
G01B 730

US Classification:

3242072

Abstract:

An extremely reliable and effective position sensor is provided at low cost for determining the relative position of a mechanical linkage with respect to a reference point. The position sensor includes a rotor or bracket which is mechanically coupled to the linkage and contains at least two magnets on opposite walls adjacent a channel opening. The opposing magnets are formed with first and second sloped or ramped sections which produce produce variable magnetic fields as determined by the geometric profile of the magnets. One or more detectors are positioned in the air gap between the opposing magnets. As the linkage is moved, the rotor or bracket moves with respect to the detector causing a change in the strength of the magnetic field detected by the detector whereby the detector determines the position of the movable linkage.

US Patent:

61752339, Jan 16, 2001

Filed:

Feb 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

8/999585

Inventors:

Jeffrey L. McCurley - White Pigeon MI
James E. White - Warsaw IN
Craig A. Jarrard - Middlebury IN
Ronald C. Nonnenmacher - Elkhart IN
John Zdanys - Elkhart IN
Thomas R. Olson - Chesterton IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G01B 714
G01B 730
H01L 4306

US Classification:

3242072

Abstract:

A dual-axes position sensor 10 having an outer housing 12, an actuator 40, a linear Hall effect sensor assembly 20 for detecting position changes along a first (y) axis, and a linear Hall effect sensor assembly 30 for detecting position changes along a second (x) axis is disclosed. The housing 12 is preferably made out of a non-magnetic material such as plastic. Actuator 40 is rod shaped and coupled to a movable device or shaft (not shown) that is to have its position sensed. The linear Hall effect sensor assembly 20 is unattachably positioned to set on lip 52 of the housing 12, and includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 26, a magnet assembly 24 comprising an upper magnet 21 and a lower magnet 23 that are separated by an air gap 25. Magnet assembly 24 and pole piece 26 are positioned around a Hall sensor device support 14 in a"U" shaped configuration or form. Hall sensor device support 14 is fixedly attached to housing 12 via attachment area 54.