Patents Examined by John Anthony Ward
  • Patent number: 7090375
    Abstract: The arrangement in connection with a lighting fixture, and a lighting fixture, the arrangement comprising a first light source which is arranged in connection with the lighting fixture structure. The arrangement further comprises one or more second light sources and an optic guide, which comprises a first end, a second end and a guide portion between them; is arranged to transmit light over the guide portion between the first end and the second end; and is arranged in connection with a lighting fixture to provide dimmer lighting compared with the lighting provided with the first source, whereby one or more second light sources is/are arranged in connection with one end or both ends of the optic guide and to function as the light source of the optic guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Teknoware OY
    Inventor: Jouko Kuisma
  • Patent number: 7086760
    Abstract: This invention relates to the improved support rod and the fixing sheath for the lampshade. The basic structure of the lampshade is composed of several upper and lower fixing sheaths, several support rods, a set of upper and lower trays and a shade body. The main characteristics of the design are that the support rods and the upper and lower fixing sheaths are clamped separately and the curved hooks of the upper and lower sheaths can be pre-hooked to the upper and lower trays and integrated with the outer shade, which is easy for assembling and disassembling without removing the outer shade. It is much easier and faster to pre-enclose the upper and lower fixing sheaths, the outer shade of the upper and lower trays, the separate clamping of the support rods leading to great saving in production cost in the fabrication and assembly of support rods and fixing sheaths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Mei-Chu Chuang
  • Patent number: 7086771
    Abstract: A lighting unit includes a reflector, a plurality of light-emitting elements and a controller. The light-emitting elements are respectively provided on the reflector for a plurality of light-emitting regions. The controller supplies a periodic drive signal to each of the light-emitting elements, thereby defining a state of the light-emitting element. The lighting unit illuminates a display panel including a light modulating layer with light that has been emitted from the light-emitting elements. The controller supplies drive signals of substantially different types to at least two of the light-emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masae Kawabata, Makoto Shiomi
  • Patent number: 7083318
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, an upper end portion of a lamp housing is fixed on a main supporter so that the lamp housing can be made to face a side edge of a light guide. Light that can cause bright lines is eliminated or minimized through absorption or scattering by a main supporter. The main supporter is also thermally insulating and is placed between the lamp housing and a liquid crystal panel. Further, a thermally conducting bottom cover is placed under the backlight. Therefore, heat generated from the lamp is effectively channeled away from the light guide to prevent liquid crystal panel deterioration. Still further, although the upper and lower surfaces of the light guide is tightly fit between the lamp housing and the main supporter, wrinkles on a sheet reflector are prevented because the sheet reflector is not stacked between the lamp housing and a lower surface of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung Su Ha, Myong Gi Jang
  • Patent number: 7077555
    Abstract: A lamp crystal has a transparent body formed with an outwardly open bore and having an outer surface having a region with a matte finish, and a light-emitting diode fixed in the bore. The outer surface is substantially smooth and polished except at the region with the matte finish. The matte-finish region extends peripherally around the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Herner Glas Bernd Hoffbauer GmbH & Co. Leuchten und Industrieglas KG
    Inventor: Bernd Hoffbauer
  • Patent number: 7077542
    Abstract: Disclosed are a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display device using the same. A ratio of a pitch, which is an interval between the lamps for supplying light to an LCD panel, to a gap, which is a distance between the center of the lamps and an optical plate, is adjusted to thereby minimize the bright line that badly influences the image display quality, so as to display a high quality image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keun-Woo Lee, Jong-Dae Park, Chang-Young Bang, Tae-Jin Lee, Jae-Sang Lee, Jeong-Hwan Lee, Jae-Ho Jung, Yong-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 7077551
    Abstract: An adjustable element is part of an apparatus such as an automotive headlight which includes a support, and a security cap prevents undetected interference with the adjustment of that element, guaranteeing its inviolability. The adjustment is effected with a control member rotatable about a geometrical axis transverse to the axis of the support. The control member has an adjusting head accessible from outside the support. The security cap is mounted for movement in translation with respect to the support, parallel to the geometric support axis, and includes snap-fitting means co-operating with a zone of the support, to be engaged in response to this movement. The cap is put into a final snap-fitted position, in which it conceals the adjusting head, by a simple push.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Franck Dinant
  • Patent number: 7073923
    Abstract: A combination vehicle charger and flashlight provides illumination while a user connects a mobile device to the vehicle charger. A light source disposed on the mobile device plug of the vehicle charger connects to either an external or an internal power supply to provide a beam of light used to illuminate the mobile device. In one embodiment, the external power supply may comprise a vehicle battery. In an alternate embodiment, the internal power supply may comprise a battery disposed within the vehicle charger. Exemplary embodiments may also include a switch to selectively connect the light source to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Jason M. Cope
  • Patent number: 7073922
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes emitting red, blue, and green light. The plurality of light-emitting diodes emit light beams and are arranged so as to emit the light beams toward a focusing point. A control circuit is provided for controlling the intensity of light emission of each of the light-emitting diodes emitting red, blue, and green light. A concave reflector is provided for reflecting and radiating the light focused from the light-emitting diodes to the focusing point so that the light is further focused or scattered. The apparatus also has a position-changing mechanism for changing a relative position of the concave reflector relative to the focusing point of the light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignees: Daisho Denki Inc., Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Monjo, Tomoaki Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 7073924
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus includes a diaphragm controlling unit controlling one or more of an diaphragm, an iris diaphragm, and a relay lens system. In addition, the projection exposure apparatus also includes a line width calculator which calculates a bias, which is a difference between a line width in a dense part and a line width in an isolated part, based on information regarding a mask pattern, the wavefront aberration of a lens, the effective light source of an illumination optical system, the half-width of a laser, the temperature change in a projection optical system due to exposure, etc. When the bias is out of a tolerance range, the line width calculator calculates a correction value for the diaphragm of the projection optical system or a correction value for the effective light source of the illumination optical system in accordance with the bias which is to be corrected. Then, the diaphragm controlling unit is driven in accordance with the calculation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Koizumi, Kazuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7070308
    Abstract: A light projector includes a polarized light splitter 3 that splits unpolarized light irradiated from a light source 1 into p-polarized light and s-polarized light, and the p-polarized light and/or the s-polarized light are irradiated as vertical polarized light and/or horizontal polarized light, providing a driver with considerably improved forward visibility in comparison with a conventional headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Shikano
  • Patent number: 7070307
    Abstract: A replaceable lamp assembly includes a lamp coupled to a lamp header; and a cap coupled to the lamp header that at least partially covers the lamp. The cap minimizes contamination of the lamp and is configured to allow selective exposure of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: John M. Koegler
  • Patent number: 7070309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a head lamp assembling device of a front end module of a vehicle, which is capable of locating a head lamp of the vehicle in an exact position of a fender of the vehicle. The head lamp assembling device includes: a carrier assembling stand for fixing the carrier; position adjusting means for adjusting a position of the head lamp; and movable means for moving the position adjusting means of the head lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Jae-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 7066635
    Abstract: Light is input into an incident surface portion from a fluorescent lamp, and most of the light propagates in repetition directions. Since a length of an emission portion of the fluorescent lamp is shorter than that of the incident surface portion, there are areas to which no light propagates and dark portions generate in the repetition directions of a string of prisms. Since these dark portion generate out of the display area, a display quality is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumihiko Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 7066617
    Abstract: A downward illumination assembly for directing light downward from the ceiling area of a room includes a lamp housing having a closed upper end, an open lower end disposed axially opposite the closed upper end, and a housing wall extending from around a periphery of the upper end to and defining the open lower end. The lower end is positioned adjacent an opening in a ceiling panel. A lamp is supported in a lamp socket within the lamp housing in a position to radiate light through the lower end of the housing and through the opening in the ceiling panel. A module is removably supported on the housing and carries the lamp socket. The lamp socket is removable from the lamp housing with the module to allow the lamp socket and/or associated wiring to be serviced or replaced without removing the lamp housing from the ceiling panel or disconnecting and lowering the ceiling panel from its support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Man-D-Tec
    Inventors: Terry R. Mandy, Dalton J. Mandy, Brandon R. Mandy
  • Patent number: 7063445
    Abstract: A luminaire retrofit panel including a main wall adapted to support a luminaire in a central opening of the main wall, and including an outer perimeter. A side wall extends from the outer perimeter of the main wall. A plurality of secondary walls extend from the side wall and extend over a portion of the main wall toward the central opening of the main wall. The secondary walls are substantially parallel to the main wall. The plurality of secondary walls support at least one hinge and at least one latch. The hinge is engagable with a frame and allows the main wall to pivot with respect the frame. The latch is engagable with the frame to hold the main wall to releasably secure the main wall to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: James P. Wang, Marc A. Schetselaar, Richard E. Simon
  • Patent number: 7059735
    Abstract: In a rotary electric component, an annular thin faceplate disposed around a rotary knob is provided with an illuminated display portion inner and outer circumferential portions of the rear surface of the faceplate are bonded and fixed to a holder, and the rotary knob and the display portion is assembled in cutout of a front panel. A large-diameter annular portion of the holder adhering to the outer circumferential portion of the faceplate protrudes forward farther than a small-diameter annular portion adhering to the inner circumferential portion. A protruding portion of the front panel extending around the circumferential edge of the cutout presses a region near the outer circumferential portion of the faceplate. As a result, the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate is reliably compressed against the holder a small-diameter annular portion).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takamichi Orikasa
  • Patent number: 7059752
    Abstract: An infrared light radiating lamp in which red light emitted from a front lens is diluted so as to become inconspicuous by emitting a small amount of visible light from a rim portion of a convex lens so that the lamp will not be mistaken for a tail lamp or a stop lamp and without causing glare. A vehicular infrared light radiating lamp is provided with a light source unit including a convex lens mounted via a lens holder forward of a reflector in which a light source is mounted. An infrared light transmitting film is provided on the rear surface of the convex lens. An infrared light transmitting film-free region is provided on the outer periphery of the infrared light transmitting film such that white visible light for diluting the red light emitted from the convex lens is emitted from the rim portion of the convex lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Kioto Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Yagi, Kazuki Okui
  • Patent number: 7059739
    Abstract: An illuminating device with flashing lights may is adjustably affixable to ice skates or in-line skates. The illuminating device may include a number of lamps or light emitting diodes (LEDs) and is controlled by a motion switch or other switch. The lamps or LEDs are visible from the inside of a transparent box which is installed in the hollow between the shoe portion of the skate and the blade or wheels of the skate. The illuminating device is necessarily compact in nature, consisting primarily of flashing lights and a power-and-control circuit that controls and enables the flashing of the lights. The lights may be flashed sequentially, in-phase, randomly, or in other desirable patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Cheerine Development (Hong Kong) Ltd.
    Inventor: Wai Kai Wong
  • Patent number: 7059745
    Abstract: A luminaire assembly (10) using a double-ended, unshielded high intensity discharge (HID) light source (100). In one aspect, the assembly (10) includes a light source mount (22) adapted to manually, without tools, mount and remove the HID light source (100). The light source mount (22) can optionally include structure (106L and R, 134L and R) to automatically position the light source (100) in a desired orientation. In another aspect, the assembly (10) includes a connection (104L and R, 304L and R, 306L and R) adapted to manually, without tools, connect the light source (100) to electrical power, the connection (104L and R, 304L and R, 306L and R) can be configured to have no electrically conducting surfaces directly exposed or accessible to human fingers and can be configured to be positioned relatively away from the light source (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Musco Corporation
    Inventors: Myron K. Gordin, Timothy J. Boyle