Patents Assigned to Altair Engineering, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120147598
    Abstract: An LED-based tube light suitable for replacing a conventional 48-inch fluorescent tube light includes LEDs connected into a complete illumination circuit that runs exclusively through connectors at one end of the light. In an alternative embodiment, two LED groups are used, each group being connected exclusively to its own set of end connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: John Ivey
  • Publication number: 20120146532
    Abstract: A regulator scheme for an LED light wherein the peak input current to the regulator and the regulator duty cycle produce a feedback signal which infers the average regulator output current. Both buck-boost and flyback type output circuits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: John Ivey, Francis Palazzolo
  • Publication number: 20120106157
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an LED-based light for replacing a fluorescent bulb in a conventional fluorescent light fixture. The LED-based light includes a housing having a first end opposing a second end, a circuit board disposed within the housing and extending along a longitudinal axis of the housing, at least one LED mounted to the circuit board, at least one end cap disposed on one of the first and second ends of the housing, the end cap including a switch and at least one electrically conductive pin configured for physical and electrical connection to the light fixture; and circuitry configured to provide a current path between the at least one LED and the at least one electrically conductive pin, wherein the switch is configured to selectively disconnect the current path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David Simon, John Ivey, Philip Kosarek, Craig Mackiewicz
  • Publication number: 20120099322
    Abstract: Disclosed is a LED lighting apparatus with one or more swivel connections. The LED lighting apparatus includes a housing with at least one end, at least one light emitting diode extending along the housing and at least one end cap. The end cap has an opening with a sidewall to cap the end of the housing and a surface opposite the opening and spanning the sidewall. At least two pin connectors extend from the surface and are connectable to a standard fluorescent or incandescent light fixture. Various configurations are described such that the housing will rotate within the end caps with application of a rotational force after connection of the pin connectors to the light fixture to adjust the light output direction of the LED lighting apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Simon, John Ivey
  • Publication number: 20120089472
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of vehicle acquisition and exchange. The method includes assigning a predetermined number of units for a first vehicle and a predetermined number of units for a second vehicle, providing at least one customer with a customer unit pool representing an amount of available product units, receiving a first request from the at least one customer for the first vehicle, determining whether to approve the first request based upon the at least one customer's customer unit pool and the predetermined number of units for the first vehicle using a processor; and if the first request is approved: receiving a second request from the at least one customer to exchange the first vehicle for the second vehicle and determining whether to approve the second request based upon the at least one customer's customer unit pool and the predetermined number of units for the second vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: James Scapa
  • Publication number: 20120081894
    Abstract: An LED-based lamp comprises a contact base, an LED support plate, a circuit board supported by the LED support plate, LEDs mounted to the circuit board, a heat transferring structure, a heat dissipating structure, a reflector and a bulb cover enclosing the circuit board, the LEDs, the LED support plate and the reflector. The LED support plate and the heat dissipating structure each dissipate a portion of the heat generated by LEDs. The heat transferring structure thermally couples the LED support plate to the heat dissipating structure and distributes the heat dissipation between them. The LEDs are oriented to project light in a first direction along a vertical axis of the LED-based lamp. A reflector is positioned in the first direction to diffuse light from the LEDs such that a majority portion of the light is directed in a second direction away from the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David L. SIMON, John IVEY, Gordon LAVERING
  • Patent number: 8118447
    Abstract: Disclosed is a LED lighting apparatus with one or more swivel connections. The LED lighting apparatus includes a housing with at least one end, at least one light emitting diode extending along the housing and at least one end cap. The end cap has an opening with a sidewall to cap the end of the housing and a surface opposite the opening and spanning the sidewall. At least two pin connectors extend from the surface and are connectable to a standard fluorescent or incandescent light fixture. Various configurations are described such that the housing will rotate within the end caps with application of a rotational force after connection of the pin connectors to the light fixture to adjust the light output direction of the LED lighting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Simon, John Ivey
  • Publication number: 20120008314
    Abstract: An LED light tube and method of manufacturing an LED light tube includes the steps of forming an LED light tube housing of a first housing segment joined to a first end cap. One end of a circuit board is inserted through the one housing segment into contact with the first end cap. One or more additional housing segments are slid over the circuit board into engagement with ends of previously mounted housing segments. A second end cap is joined to the engaged ends of the multiple housing segments are fixed together to complete a unitary housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David Simon, John Ivey
  • Publication number: 20120008315
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a LED fluorescent tube replacement lamp and lighting modules from which the lamp is constructed. One embodiment of a replacement lamp includes a plurality of interchangeable lighting modules that are configured to be electrically connected to adjacent modules. The interchangeable lighting modules can include end modules each having an end cap with pin connectors, at least one of the end modules includes electrical circuitry connected to the pin connectors for powering the modules. The lighting modules can also be center unit modules having LEDs mounted to a circuit board. The replacement lamps can be made from conceivable configurations of the lighting modules, requiring removal of only one module for repair or replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Simon, John Ivey
  • Publication number: 20120008316
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of LED-based lights for replacing a conventional fluorescent light bulb in a fluorescent light fixture and embodiments of a circuit board mount for an LED-based light tube having an elongate housing with at least one circuit board spanning the housing. One embodiment disclosed herein of a circuit board mount comprises an end cap configured to fit over an open end of the housing. The end cap comprises an end wall, at least one pin connector extending through the end wall and at least one fitted slot extending from the end wall configured to receive an end of the circuit board, the at least one fitted slot having an elastic member within the at least one fitted slot configured to cushion the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: John IVEY
  • Patent number: 8093823
    Abstract: A light source including at least one light emitting diode and, optionally, a housing portion surrounding the light emitting diode. The at least one light emitting diode can be an organic light-emitting diode sheet. The at least one light emitting diode is preferably enclosed in a housing portion comprising a hollow bulb-shaped portion formed of glass, plastic, etc. The housing portion can be filled partially or completely by a potting material. Alternatively, the housing portion can be formed of a potting material or a conformal coating material. At least one connector is coupled to the end of the housing portion. A power supply circuit supplies electrical current to the at least one light emitting diode through the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ivey, Jos Timmermans, Jean C. Raymond
  • Patent number: 8073780
    Abstract: A predetermined number of license units for each of a plurality of individually selectable pieces of digital content in a digital content suite are checked out when each piece of digital content is executed by a customer in a customer club. Execution of a requested digital content is granted when the number of license units to execute the requested digital content is less than or equal to the total number of available units for the club. Access is granted for execution of the requested digital content by a license manager based on whether the required units of the requested digital content are greater than the available units on the requesting customer computer network. If the requested digital content cannot be executed immediately, the required units can be locked up and charged to the customer club available units or left uncharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dhiren Marjadi, James P. Dagg, James P. Scapa
  • Publication number: 20110234076
    Abstract: An LED based light comprises a base, a light structure, a heat dissipating structure, and at least one LED. The light structure is adjacent to the base and extends along a longitudinal axis of the light. The light structure includes an inner surface and an outer surface and defines a cavity, and the heat dissipating structure extends into the cavity. At least one LED is mounted in thermally conductive relation to the heat dissipating structure. In one version, the light structure is an annular flange, and an organic LED is mounted to the outer surface. In another version, the light structure is a light pipe configured to distribute a light produced by the at least one LED in a predetermined light distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Simon, John Ivey
  • Publication number: 20110235318
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of LED-based lights for use in fluorescent fixtures that emanate light in a plurality of directions. One embodiment disclosed herein of an LED light for use in a fluorescent light fixture comprises a housing and a circuit board having a first surface configured to face an illumination area, the circuit board mounted in the housing and defining a plane conceptually dividing the housing into a first portion and a second portion. At least one LED is mounted on the first surface of the circuit board and is configured to emanate light in a first direction. Light distribution means is configured to distribute a portion of the light emanated in the first direction to at least a second direction different than the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David L. SIMON, John IVEY
  • Publication number: 20110234107
    Abstract: An LED based light and a method of providing power to the LED are disclosed. The LED based light includes at least one LED and at least one thermoelectric generator having a first side and a second side. The first side is thermally coupled to the at least one LED such that heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the at least one thermoelectric generator, producing a temperature differential between the first side and second side. The at least one thermoelectric generator is configured to produce electrical energy from the temperature differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David L. SIMON, John IVEY, James R. SCAPA
  • Publication number: 20110235321
    Abstract: A method of forming a LED-based light for replacing a conventional fluorescent bulb in a fluorescent light fixture includes forming a heat sink by shaping an elongate sheet of highly thermally conductive material to increase a surface area to width ratio thereof mounting LEDs in thermally conductive relation with the heat sink, and enclosing the LEDs within a light transmitting cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: John Ivey, David L. Simon
  • Publication number: 20110214471
    Abstract: A portable, hand-operated rescue tool is provided for rescue and extreme duty operations where an object needs to be cut, crushed, pierced and separated, or lifted. The rescue tool includes a body, a support handle and articulating jaw force members used to impart high forces on an object. The tool includes a manually-operated, pivoting actuation handle connected to a high pressure fluid displacement system to pivotally rotate the jaw force arms in a selected direction or mode of operation to suit the situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Wettlaufer, James Trumble, Timothy R. Smith, Shaun C. Muston, Dragi Gasevski, Craig Mackiewicz
  • Publication number: 20110188240
    Abstract: A lighting and communication system for use in a standardized light fixture is provided. The lighting and communication system includes a light source and a communication apparatus, and the communication apparatus is at least one of an audio device or a camera. At least one electrical connector configured for physical and electrical connection to the standardized light fixture is included, and the at least one electrical connector is electrically connected to the light source and the communication apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: ALTAIR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Simon, John Ivey
  • Patent number: D650097
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Trumble, Craig Mackiewicz
  • Patent number: D664414
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Altair Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Wettlaufer, James Trumble, Timothy R. Smith, Shaun C. Muston, Dragi Gasevski, Craig Mackiewicz