Patents Examined by Jessica L. McMillan
  • Patent number: 7866871
    Abstract: Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis I. Couzin, William J. Cassarly, Steven R. Chapman
  • Patent number: 7862213
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for high intensity lighting includes, in one aspect, a reflector frame having a main portion generally following a surface of revolution of the type that produces a converging beam and a second portion following a surface of revolution of the type that produces a different shape beam. Placement of the second portion in the reflector frame allows shifting of parts of the light beam in desired directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Musco Corporation
    Inventors: Myron K. Gordin, Timothy J. Boyle
  • Patent number: 7862212
    Abstract: A light emitting diode lens structure includes a lens having an upper section and a lower section. The lower section is provided with a light emitting diode accommodation part. The upper section is coated with a specular reflection layer to form a reflecting surface facing the light emitting diode accommodation part. An illumination apparatus with the light emitting diode lens structure includes a lampshade, a locking module, an electrode module, and a light emitting diode. The lampshade has a reflecting light surface and an aperture. The locking module is coupled on the lampshade and has a through hole corresponding to the aperture. The electrode module is coupled on the locking module and corresponds to the through hole. This design provides a significant reduction in glare to reduce eyestrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Pacific Speed Limited
    Inventors: Cheng-Yu Huang, Te-Kai Ku, Hsin-Kai Wang
  • Patent number: 7857497
    Abstract: An LED lighting fixture is provided which achieves effective use of light, uniformly illuminates a large area and, has a high degree of freedom in designing light distribution characteristics. Three types of LED optical modules are used each having different light distribution characteristics. Each LED optical module includes an LED light source and a light distribution controlling lens of a different shape which constitute an optical system. Three types of LED optical units having different light distribution characteristics can be used. Each LED optical unit includes a set of LED optical modules having the same light distribution characteristics. The LED lighting fixture is configured to have a combination of the LED optical units having different light distribution characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Koike, Shoichi Bamba, Ryotaro Owada, Hidetaka Okada
  • Patent number: 7857492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a luminaire (1) having a luminaire housing (2) and an adjustable spotlight arrangement (10). In order to achieve a movement of the spotlight arrangement (10) which is dependent in two degrees of freedom on one another, the spotlight arrangement (10) is held displaceably in a displacement direction (5b) of the luminaire housing (2), and there is provided in the luminaire housing (2) a pivot guide slot member (14), by means of which upon displacement in the displacement direction the spotlight arrangement (10) is compulsorily and reproducibly pivoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rod Dixon
  • Patent number: 7857477
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an article of clothing having a lighting system that may be laundered with the clothing without damage to the electrical components of such system, comprising a light module that encapsulates and seals an electrical circuit coupled by one or more wires to a number of LEDs that are contained within a separate, leak-proof decorative patch. The patch is formed by a plastic base having an outer periphery that may be affixed to the article of clothing, such as by stitching, and a plastic cover preferably heat-sealed about its peripheral edge to the base defining a cavity between them within which the LEDs are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: BBC Internatinoal LLC
    Inventors: Donald Wilborn, Rudy Guzman
  • Patent number: 7850349
    Abstract: A vehicle headliner mounted center high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) including a light source disposable between a vehicle roof base layer and headliner generally aft of a vehicle, and a CHMSL frame disposable between the vehicle roof base layer and the headliner adjacent the light source. The CHMSL frame may be releasably mountable to the vehicle roof base layer by a fastener for mounting the headliner to the vehicle roof base layer. The invention also provides a method of mounting and servicing a CHMSL, including the steps of attaching the CHMSL to a vehicle roof base layer and/or a headliner, such that the CHMSL is disposed between the vehicle roof base layer and the headliner generally aft of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Albert Ekladyous, Tom Partch, Todd Schwanger, Bruce Williams, Ehab Kaoud, Jim Smithbauer
  • Patent number: 7832903
    Abstract: A device is provided for the treatment and prophylaxis of healthy eyes, pseudoaphakic eyes and/or eyes suffering macular and retinal degeneration that comprises a yellow filter applied to a conventional illumination system to protect them from short wavelengths of the visible spectrum under 500 nm and preferably in the range of 350 nm to 500 nm. This device the difficulties and risks of existing ways of protecting eyes undergoing cataract surgery and prevents or improves the degeneration of healthy eyes and those suffering neurodegeneration by the simple application of a protective filter to any lighting system. Embodiments of the invention comprise combining a conventional light source with a conventional yellow filter that absorbs wavelengths of light shorter than 500 nm so that the filter completely covers the illumination source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    Inventor: Celia Sanchez Ramos
  • Patent number: 7819548
    Abstract: A safety sleeve apparatus comprises a safety sleeve encapsulating a fluorescent tube for protecting the fluorescent tube from physical damage and for preventing the tube from sliding out of the sleeve and breaking if the sleeve is tilted from the horizontal during installation of the tube into a pair of lamp sockets. The sleeve protects the tube from damage if the sleeve is struck by a hard object, and creates an airspace around the tube to protect the tube from cold and prevent the escape of fragments from a broken tube. The sleeve has a greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of the tube. An end cap is mounted on each end of the sleeve, and the end cap includes a cylindrical ring extending upright from the edges of a flat end wall. Projections are included in the cylindrical ring and the projections attach to the slots in the ends of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Light Lines, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Schultz, Anthony Kasmar
  • Patent number: 7819560
    Abstract: Provided are an illumination device and a lens employed in the device for controlling light travelling direction, the device being capable of illuminating brightly and uniformly a certain limited region (region-to-be-illuminated) corresponding to an object such as subject for photography. The illumination device emits light H coming from a light emitting element (point-like light source) employing a LED as a light emitting source via the lens. A light control emission face of the lens emits light (rays), which is included in light H introduced into the lens through an incidence face thereof and travelling within the lens to the light control emission face without undergoing inner-reflection at any surface of the light control emission face, as illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 7815341
    Abstract: A low-profile strip illumination device comprises a substrate supporting an elongate heat conductor and positively and negatively energized elongate rails. A plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted so as to be powered by the elongate rails. The LEDs are arranged generally adjacent the elongate heat conductor so that a heat flow path is defined from each LED to the elongate heat conductor and to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Permlight Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James Steedly, Fernando Lynch, Chris Werner
  • Patent number: 7810955
    Abstract: A linear LED light module and system includes a heat sink, a printed circuit board, a plurality of LEDs, a power supply housing, a flexible electrical conductor, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a power supply. The heat sink is elongated in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis that is parallel with a greatest dimension of the heat sink. The PCB is in thermal communication with the heat sink and includes circuitry. The plurality of LEDs mount to the PCB and are in electrical communication with the circuitry of the PCB. The power supply housing connects to the heat sink. The flexible electrical conductor includes at least two wires that are configured to accommodate an AC line voltage of at least 120 VAC. The first electrical connector is at a first end of the electrical conductor. The second electrical connector is at a second end of the electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Lumination LLC
    Inventors: Tomislav Stimac, Shawn Du, Matthew S. Mrakovich, Mark Mayer
  • Patent number: 7806557
    Abstract: An assembly of a lighting unit and a receptacle unit includes at least one receptacle unit and at least one lighting unit. The receptacle unit has an outer housing provided with at least one first connection portion and at least one second connection portion electrically connected to the first connection portion in the outer housing. The lighting unit is electrically connected to one of the first and second connection portions of the receptacle unit, so that the lighting unit and the receptacle unit can be independently rotated in relation to each other along a connection axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ledtech Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yen-Fu Liu, Chien-Hung Tsai, Hsuan-Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 7806563
    Abstract: A convection cooling system for high-output Light Emitting Diodes in outdoor illumination applications. The cooling system takes advantage of wide-angle LED output so as to allow placement of cooling fins directly on the shaded underside of the molded or extruded support structure. Accordingly, the cooling system provides a relatively large convective surface area with a substantial portion of that surface shaded from solar radiation so as not to collect solar heat during daytime periods while still expelling heat as it is collected from finned portions that are exposed to sunlight and so do collect solar heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Intencity Lighting, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Bruck, Patrick Stuart Mullins
  • Patent number: 7806573
    Abstract: A headlamp for a vehicle includes a lighting unit and an extension for covering a clearance between a lamp body and the lighting unit in a lighting chamber formed by the lamp body and a cover. The lighting unit includes a light source bulb and a reflector for reflecting a direct light emitted from the light source bulb in a forward direction. The extension includes a first extension having a bottom side front end taking a substantially dogleg-shaped section in which a bent portion is turned in a forward direction of the vehicle, and a second extension positioned behind the first extension and having a front edge on an internal surface of a bottom side lighting unit positioned below a rear edge of the internal surface of the lighting unit in a bottom side front end of the first extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Terada, Tomoharu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7798673
    Abstract: An aqua-lamp-based candle-like lighting device includes a stand accommodating therein an incandescent lamp assembly that is engageable with a power source to generate heat. The stand has an open end in which an aqua-lamp base that defines an internal chamber is mounted. An illuminator for lighting purposes is arranged at an opening of the chamber. Thus, the heat generated by the incandescent lamp assembly is employed to cause a liquid contained in the aqua lamp base to flow and show a shining effect; and the illuminator of the internal chamber serves as a twinkling night lamp. As such, the aqua-lamp-based candle-like lighting device shows dual interests of visual effects in both light twinkling and liquid flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Chin-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 7798690
    Abstract: A headlamp including a metal bracket and a plurality of light source units 50, each unit having a light source, being mounted on the metal bracket 20, and being disposed within a lamp chamber. Irradiation light patterns of the light source units 50 are combined together to form a predetermined light distribution pattern. Each of the light source units 50 includes a resin shade 58, which is fastened to the bracket 20 by a fastening portion and is disposed forwardly of the light source, and a resin lens 52 connected to the shade 58. Part of the fastening portion is made of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Watanabe, Tetsuaki Inaba
  • Patent number: 7798671
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal TV, there is provided a direct back light for increasing brightness in the vicinity of the center of a screen. Plural fluorescent tubes are used for backlight, and the respective two fluorescent tubes are paired and driven. The arrangement intervals of the respective pairs are made smallest in the vicinity of the center of the screen to increase the brightness in the vicinity of the center of the screen. The use of the paired fluorescent tubes is to alleviate a variation of the brightness in each of the fluorescent tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ota, Shimon Itakura, Naotoshi Sumiya
  • Patent number: 7794128
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices and a reflector for reflecting light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting devices toward a front side of the vehicle lamp. The reflector is formed into a shape whose front area is open. A plate-like partition member is disposed inside the reflector to partition the reflector into a plurality of reflecting areas. The semiconductor light emitting devices are mounted on the plate-like partition member in respective reflecting areas such that optical axes of the semiconductor light emitting devices are directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a lamp optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Fujiwara, Hiroyuki Ishida, Michio Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7780306
    Abstract: A light guide plate is provided. The light guide plate includes a light source hole part configured to accommodate a light source, the light source hole part provided at a back surface on the opposite side of a light emitting surface; and a recessed part provided on the side of said light emitting surface opposed to the light source hole part. The recessed part has, at the bottom portion of the recessed part, a slant surface inclined against the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsunari Hoshi