Patents Examined by Julie A. Shallenberger
  • Patent number: 8371738
    Abstract: A backlight unit 12 includes LEDs 16, light guide plates 18, an air layer AR and a scattering structures. Each light guide plate 18 has a light entrance surface 34 and a light exit surface 36. The light entrance surface 34 faces the corresponding LED 16 and light from the LED 16 enters through the light entrance surface 34. The light exit surface 36 through which light exits is arranged along an arrangement direction in which the LED 16 and the light entrance surface 34 are arranged. The light guide plates 18 are arranged in a parallel layout so as to be parallel to the light exit surface 36 and perpendicular to the arrangement direction. The air layer AR is provided between the adjacent light guide plates 18 and has a refraction index lower than that of the light guide plates 18. The scattering structures are provided in side-edge surfaces 31a that are interfaces between the light guide plates 18 and the air layer AR. The scattering structures are configured to scatter light inside the light guide plates 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8371729
    Abstract: A keyed mounting arrangement for a light or other object mountable on a mounting rail having a keying feature may comprise a body containing operating elements; a clamping arrangement including clamp members on the body for clamping and releasing the mounting rail; and a keying member removably disposed in a recess located on the body in a predetermined location and having a keying feature that engages the keying feature of the mounting rail when the body is clamped to the mounting rail. Where the object is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, the keying member may be selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond L. Sharrah, John C. DiNenna
  • Patent number: 8366304
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunctional internal lighting device for a motor vehicle. A single internal lighting device comprises various LED-type light sources which are capable of performing at least one first internal lighting function and a second internal lighting function. The various LEDs are distributed into at least two separate sets, a first set being dedicated to the performance of the first internal lighting function and a second set being dedicated to the performance of a second internal lighting function. In particular, it is proposed to use axial emission LEDs or through-emission LEDs and lateral emission LEDs to perform the first function and the second function respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Eric Geoffroy, Jerome Monnot, Michel Andrieu
  • Patent number: 8362713
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that provide a method of power management of a lighting source, including providing a lighting facility, wherein the lighting facility includes the lighting source, an external control device for communicating between the lighting facility and an external control source, an internal control facility, an energy storage device, and a connection to external power; and shifting power usage between the external power and the energy storage device as controlled by the internal control facility and as a result of information received from the external control source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Wireless Environment, LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Recker, David B. Levine
  • Patent number: 8353611
    Abstract: A fastener includes a main body having a front portion and a rear portion, a securing member engageable with the rear portion of the main body, and a light source unit securable between the securing member and the front portion of the main body, for providing light to illuminate the front portion of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian J. Truesdale, David F. Schieleit, Kenneth A. Albrecht, YuJen Lo, YuHsun Wu
  • Patent number: 8348445
    Abstract: A direct-type backlight unit includes: an arrangement surface on which a plurality of light sources are arranged; and a plurality of reflecting surfaces that are formed at a plurality of ends of the arrangement surface and reflect light emitted from the plurality of light source. Light emitted from the light sources and light reflected from the plurality of reflecting surfaces irradiate to a radiation area surrounded by the plurality of reflecting surfaces. The plurality of reflecting surfaces are inclined at an angle that is smaller than 90 degrees with respect to an extension surface of the arrangement surface that extends toward the outside of the reflecting surface. The plurality of reflecting surfaces include reflecting surfaces having a large inclination angle and reflecting surfaces having an inclination angle that is smaller than the large inclination angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8342709
    Abstract: LED module, arrays of LED modules, luminaires incorporating such arrays, and methods of illumination where the configuration of respective components facilitates any one or more of desired angle, location and shape of illumination provided by the LEDs. LED modules are selectively disposed on a carrier plate. Each of the LED modules includes a substantially planar LED circuit board with LED chips disposed thereon, a heat sink formed of heat transmitting material and having a mounting surface for accommodating an LED circuit board to dissipate heat from the LED chips, and a reflector with its reflective surface disposed with respect to the LED chips to direct the emitted light toward an axis of illumination extending away from and substantially perpendicular to a plane containing the planar LED circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas C. Lueken, Michael S. Neuer
  • Patent number: 8333482
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an illuminator configured to emit light into an optical fiber includes at least one pump light source configured to emit short-wavelength light. The illuminator further includes a white phosphor disposed to receive the short-wavelength light and to emit white light in response. The illuminator also includes a light collector configured to collect the short-wavelength light at the white phosphor such that a brightness of the white light is greater than a brightness of the short-wavelength light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael James Papac, Christopher Horvath, Michael J. Yadlowsky, Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 8328382
    Abstract: A rotatable downlight frame assembly comprises a pan having a pivot aperture therein, a collar disposed in the pan for rotating in the pivot aperture, the collar having a trim aperture wall depending through the pan, the collar having one of a square, rectangular, non-circular, or asymmetrical trim opening for positioning of a lighting trim, the collar being rotatable relative to the pan through 360 degrees, at least one fastener passing through the collar, a tool-less fastener assembly, the tool-less assembly having one of a first position and a second position for tightening the collar at an angular position relative to the pan via frictional engagement, and the other of the first position and the second position allowing for pivotable motion, and, a lighting assembly positioned on the collar for pivotal movement with the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Brandon Crooks, Mark Owen Jones, Graham Rippel, Robert Scott Gosnell
  • Patent number: 8322899
    Abstract: A base member has a top and a bottom with laterally spaced sides, a generally planar front face, and a generally planar rear face. A battery extends through a cylindrical hole through the base member. A lens cap is threadedly coupled to the rear face of the base member rearwardly of the hole to create a light chamber rearward of the base member. A battery switch is threadedly coupled to the base member. A printed circuit board with rearward facing LEDs is within the chamber. The LEDs are adapted to be turned on and off through the energizing and de-energizing of the battery by the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Israel Rosario
  • Patent number: 8322902
    Abstract: An optical system for a motor vehicle, the optical system performing at least one main optical function and including in particular a diffusion screen, at least one light source of the LED type, each LED of the optical system producing a set of rays of light to be propagated in the diffusion screen wherein the screen is in the form of a curved sheet, with an upper lateral flange and a lower lateral flange which meet at a periphery which has in particular a rear face and a front edge and the principal function is performed essentially via an output face constituted by the front edge of the diffusion screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Laure Martin, Benjamin Vernisse, Benjamin Thierry, Nicolas Vathonne, Jean-Claude Gasquet
  • Patent number: 8317365
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cover for a compact fluorescent light employing a two piece clamshell shape assimilating a conventional incandescent light bulb. The cover is formed from two clamshells hingedly secured along a top end having inter-engaging means for securing one clamshell to a second clamshell tightly securing the cover to the base of a compact fluorescent light. In the preferred embodiment, the housing is made of material to reduce or eliminate ultraviolet light produced from a gas discharge lamp and provide a cover that can be decorative through the emulation of a conventional incandescent light bulb or decorated with colors and materials wherein the fluorescent light provides back lighting or where images are placed upon the housing so as to allow the back lighting to operate as a projection surface placing images on a wall separate from the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventors: Lisa Tracy, William Tracy
  • Patent number: 8313215
    Abstract: A light holder including a suspension tie; a wire cradle attached to the suspension tie; a friction arm attached to the suspension tie; a matrix of knurls extending from the friction arm; and a matrix of concavities aligned with and underlying the matrix of knurls; each knurl among the matrix of knurls having a rhombus shaped periphery and each concavity among the matrix of concavities having a rhombus shaped periphery; each of the rhombus shaped peripheries of the matrices of knurls and concavities having a longitudinal vertex and an oppositely longitudinal vertex, each vertex being acutely angled; the matrices of knurls and concavities corrugating the friction arm and defining an overlying channel grid and an underlying ridge grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventors: Trudy K. Wawak-Umscheid, Roger W. Umscheid
  • Patent number: 8308312
    Abstract: A vehicle meter is provided including a dial 10 and light sources provided on the rear face of the dial. A plurality of characters can be arranged on the dial and can be displayed by transmitting light from the light sources (a plurality of LEDs 25) and formed differently from each other in amount of transmitted light. The characters arranged on the dial may be provided with an increased and decreased amount of transmitted light to improve the visibility of the character intended to be emphasized. This makes it easy to visually recognize the entire string of characters in the vehicle meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Murasawa, Mizuho Asao
  • Patent number: 8303154
    Abstract: A backlight assembly includes a plurality of light sources emitting light and a diffusion plate. The diffusion plate includes an incident surface on which the light is incident, an exit surface which is opposite the incident surface and from which the light exits, and first and second lens patterns which are disposed on the exit surface and have different shapes from each other. Each of the first lens patterns includes a first curved portion which forms a curve and first linear portions which extend from both ends of the first curved portion, respectively. Each of the second lens patterns includes a second curved portion which forms a curve and second linear portions which extend from both ends of the second curved portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-Hwa Ha, Young-Ran Son, Joong-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8303145
    Abstract: A marine lighting device mounts in-line with a tubular member of a marine vessel structure such as a T-top, tower or hand rail. An LED light bar having an array of LEDs supportably mounted to a circuit board is sealably enclosed in a tubular lens which, in turn is disposed within a tubular housing, a central portion of which is provided with an opening through which illumination from the LEDs is emitted after passing through the lens. A sleeve coupling is used to mount at least one end of the housing to a free end of the tubular member. In lieu of using a sleeve coupling at both ends one end of the housing may be flared to receive one of the free ends of the tubular member. A lighted T-top incorporating at least one such marine lighting device and a lighted marine handrail are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Scott A. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8297817
    Abstract: A lamp installation structure 1 includes a lamp installation portion 3, a clip member 10, a lamp body 21 and a screw member 30. The clip member is attached to the lamp body 21 in a way that the screw member 30 is inserted into a screw insertion hole 14, and that a tip 31 of the screw member 30 is meshed with a meshing portion 27. A turn lamp 20 is installed in the lamp installation portion 3 in a way that one end 11a of a base portion 11 of the clip member 10 is inserted into an attachment hole 4, and that an engagement portion 12 and a flange portion 13 are respectively engaged with the back surface side and the front surface side of the lamp installation portion 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Hidenao Hashimoto, Masaji Takei, Hiromi Takei, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8297801
    Abstract: A lamp (10) has a cup-shaped body (12) with a planar bottom (14) with an up-standing, peripheral sidewall (16) defining a top (18). The body (12) is thermally conductive and preferably is a metal such as aluminum. A reflective coating (20) is provided on the inside surface of the planar bottom (14) and side wall (16) for reflecting light generated by a single, side emitting LED (22) that is mounted on a thermally conductive, electrically insulating coupling (24) and is positioned substantially in the center of the planar bottom (14). A lens (26) for directing a beam of light emitted from the LED (22) in a desired direction is provided and preferably is a Fresnel optic. The lens (26) can close the opening (18) as shown in FIG. 1 or it can be formed as an integral part of bottom (14) or it can be added to the bottom (14), as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the lens (26) can be solid with the lens elements either external (FIG. 4) or internal (FIG. 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow
  • Patent number: 8297781
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides a multi-color illuminating back light structure comprising a light guide, a reflector, at least one LED and a wavelength converter material. Micro-structures are formed on a first surface of the light guide. The reflector is attached to the first surface of the light guide. A wavelength converter material is deposited on a second surface of the light guide. At least one LED is optically coupled to at least one side of the light guide. A portion of light reflected from the micro-structures and the reflector is converted into light having at least one wavelength different from the wavelength of the reflected light. The light leaving the wavelength converter material comprises light with at least first and second wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tak Meng Cheang, Boon Keat Tan, Scott Weitzel
  • Patent number: 8292455
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including, in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body having a front opening and a transparent front cover attached to the front opening, a semiconductor light-emitting element; and an inner lens positioned forward of the semiconductor light-emitting element. The inner lens includes a first light control portion for diffusing light from the semiconductor light-emitting element in a horizontal direction; and second light control portions respectively positioned on left and right sides of the first light control portion, each of which have a reflective surface for reflecting the light from the semiconductor light-emitting element in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroya Koizumi