Patents Examined by Kristen A Manskar
  • Patent number: 7434963
    Abstract: A new lighting system is provided that is particularly useful in projecting light to a deck where pilots use night vision goggles (NVGs). The system comprises a pair of subsystems that project light with different, complementary spatial distributions. One subsystem projects light with one spatial distribution, and the other lighting subsystem projects light with another spatial distribution that supplements the light from the first subsystem, so as to provide a system that effectively illuminates an entire target. The system is designed to substantially filter light so that the light does not interfere with NVGs. The system includes new optical projection structure that minimizes the overall size of the projection structure, and maintains good efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Breault Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Kaminski, Matthew B Dubin, Mark R. Fink
  • Patent number: 7370999
    Abstract: An exemplary light guide plate (500) includes: a light incident portion (51) for receiving a light; a light reflecting portion (52) for reflecting the light input through the light incident portion; and a light emitting portion (53) opposite to the light reflecting portion, for outputting the reflected light. The light incident portion includes a first diffractive optical element (512) located thereat. The first diffractive optical element includes a plurality of protrusions (512a) each having a curved surface, with the protrusions being arranged symmetrically opposite to each other across a central axis of symmetry of the first diffractive optical element. The light emitting portion may include a second diffractive optical element (532) located thereat. The second diffractive optical element includes a plurality of elongate protrusions, with the protrusions being arranged symmetrically opposite to each other across a central axis of symmetry of the second diffractive optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Di Feng, Xing-Peng Yang, Guo-Fan Jin, Qiao-Feng Tan, Ying-Bai Yan, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 7364339
    Abstract: Provided is a backlight unit for a key of an input device. The unit includes a light guide plate and at least one light emitting unit. The light guide plate is formed of flexible transparent resin and has a light guide pattern portion in which a plurality of engraved patterns are formed in a plurality of requirement character shapes so that light can be diffused and scattered at desired luminance from a necessary light emitting portion, using a minimal number of light sources. The light emitting unit is installed at a side wall of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: LS Tech Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong jin Park
  • Patent number: 7360918
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved high-efficiency solar-charging electric window candle comprising a base adapted to sit securely upon a window sill. The base includes a footer formed with a battery compartment accessible through a bottom hatch, and a riser protruding upwardly from the footer with upwardly inclined side surfaces. The riser also has a compartment for enclosing a circuit board, and a vertically-oriented collar. A rechargeable battery is mounted in the footer of said base, and a hollow cylindrical candle body is inserted in the collar of the base riser, and a bulb assembly comprising a white LED is mounted atop the candle body. A circuit board is enclosed in the riser and includes two circuits: a current pump for supplying a pulsed current, and a photosensing circuit for sensing ambient light levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventors: Vince Trombetta, Kevin Trump
  • Patent number: 7360927
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic apparatus which comprises a circuit module, a tray, and a filling material. The module comprises an electric insulating circuit board, and a plurality of electric components mounted on the board. The tray houses the module. The tray includes a raised bottom formed to project toward the circuit board. The filling material has waterproof properties and electric insulation. The circuit board and the electric components are buried to fill the tray with the filling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeharu Oka, Kenichi Kohari, Tsutomu Araki, Koji Suzuki, Kiyoteru Kosa, Daisuke Ogino, Shinichi Karasawa
  • Patent number: 7357543
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting device in which a housing having a concave portion, which is opened forward, and a lens for covering a front opening of the housing are joined together by a laser welding, wherein the housing is formed of a thermoplastic resin of a chromatic color, and carbon of 0.01 to 0.1% is contained in the thermoplastic resin of the chromatic color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Ikeda, Yoshihiro Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 7357545
    Abstract: The headlamp assembly having low beam and high beam operation modes includes a light source, a reflector surface adapted to reflect light from the light source outward to a condenser lens positioned at a distance from the light source. An opaque shield is positioned between the light source and the condenser lens and is moveable between a first position, where a portion of the reflected light is blocked from reaching the condenser lens, and a second position, where substantially all of the reflected light is allowed to reach the condenser lens. The condenser lens has a first segment and a second segment wherein, when the opaque shield is in the first position, light is reflected almost entirely to the first segment of the condenser lens, and when the opaque shield is in the second position, light is reflected to the first and second segments of the condenser lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Stefka, Marek Olivik, David Hynar, Tomas Kreml
  • Patent number: 7350948
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a projection lens which is placed on an optical axis extending in a front and rear direction of a vehicle, a light source which is placed behind a rear focal point of the projection lens, a reflector which reflects light emanated directly from the light source in a forward direction and toward the optical axis, and a light-dark boundary forming plate which is placed between the projection lens and the light source. The light-dark boundary forming plate extends rearward and obliquely downward from a vicinity of the rear focal point of the projection lens, and a light-dark boundary forming portion is formed on a front end portion of the light-dark boundary forming plate. The light-dark boundary forming portion shields a part of the light reflected from the reflector and forms a cut-off line of a light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohi Nino, Takayuki Iwaki, Tomoyuki Moritani, Akinori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7331693
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a zoom lens which includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit with a negative refractive power, a second lens unit with a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit with a negative refractive power. The second and third lens units move during zooming. The first lens unit includes a negative biconcave lens element. The zoom lens satisfies the following conditions: ?1.4<?1/?w<?1.0 0.9<?2/?w<1.4 ?1.3<?3/?w<?0.9 where ?1 is a refractive power of the first lens unit, ?2 is a refractive power of the second lens unit, ?3 is a refractive power of the third lens unit, and ?w is a refractive power of the entire system at a wide-angle end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toyokatsu Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 7331695
    Abstract: A visible light-reflecting member is disclosed which uses a plate or a film for reflecting visible lights, whose reflective surface is provided with an aluminum thin film having an aluminum purity of not less than 99 mass % and an X-ray diffraction pattern wherein, among peak intensities ascribed to aluminum, the peak intensity ascribed to the (111) plane is higher than the total of the other peak intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Foundation for Advancement of International Science
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Akihiro Morimoto, Naoki Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 7331687
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp including: a body (110) having fixtures (120 and 120a) mounted at both end portions thereof so as to detachably mount a fluorescent light bulb (105) thereon; and a connecting means (130) mounted at both end portions of the body (110) so as to continuously interconnect a plurality of bodies to one another, thereby electrically connecting the bodies (110) to one another, wherein the connecting means (130) having a sliding terminal part (131) slidably coupled to the fixture (120) mounted at one side of the body (110) in such a manner as to be selectively protruded by a given length outwardly from the fixture (120) at the end portion thereof during forward and backward movements thereof, and a fixed terminal part (135) formed at the fixture (120a) mounted at the other side of the body (110) in such a manner as to be connected to the sliding terminal part (131) by inserting the sliding terminal part (131) thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: AVERD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Si Youl Noh
  • Patent number: 7322721
    Abstract: A side emitting device, a backlight unit using the same as a light source, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) employing the backlight unit. The side emitting device includes a light-emitting device to emit light, and a side emitter to change the path of at least part of the light emitted from the light-emitting device. The side emitter includes a first reflecting surface reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting device in a first range of angles close to a central axis, a first refracting surface refracting the light reflected by the first reflecting surface obliquely downward from the horizontal axis, and a second refracting surface refracting light emitted from the light-emitting device in a second range of angles complementary to the first range of angles. The backlight unit includes at least an array of side emitting devices, a reflection diffusion plate and a first transmission diffusion plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-whan Noh, Joon-chan Park, Dong-ha Kim, Jong-min Wang, Ju-seong Hwang
  • Patent number: 7320533
    Abstract: The in-ground, or “well light”, fixture comprises a hollow cylindrical housing with an angled end and an flat end, a lamp assembly easily mounted at either end, and a baffle. The lamp assembly is rotatably and vertically adjustable within the housing and either the angled end or the flat end may be placed upward by virtue of a pair of channels extending down the length of the housing. Fasteners are provided on the lamp assembly for attaching one or more filters above the lamp face and to create a protective air gap that prevents debris from accumulating on the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Joshua Z. Beadle
  • Patent number: 7318656
    Abstract: An illuminating bottle closure is removably couplable to a mouth or opening of a bottle. The illuminating bottle closure has a stopper portion that is insertable into the opening of the bottle and a flange portion radiating outwardly from the stopper portion for resting upon a lip of the bottle. A light emitting source and a power source are disposed in the illuminating bottle closure for emitting light into an interior of the bottle. An actuating assembly is also disposed to the illuminating bottle closure for selectively controlling power to the light emitting source. By illuminating a bottle from its interior, the illuminating bottle closure creates an enjoyable visual experience by creating the appearance that the bottle is glowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Frantz Merine
  • Patent number: 7314294
    Abstract: A light according to the present invention includes a high intensity lamp electrically connected to a power source located in a lamp connector body portion. The lamp is positioned to extend outside the lamp connector body portion and is received by a lamp housing portion which has an end through which the light from the high intensity lamp is projected. The lamp housing portion includes an outer casing shell and an inner shell in spaced apart relation and heat insulating material fills the space between the outer casing shell and the inner shell. Vent holes are provided which fluidly extend through the outer casing shell, the heat insulating material and the inner shell. Further a fan is positioned within the lamp connector body portion for directing air toward the high intensity lamp and out through the vent holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Nick T. Moore
  • Patent number: 7306346
    Abstract: Inside surround desiccant pattern A surrounding an organic EL element by bonding an element substrate to a sealing board, outside surround desiccant pattern C surrounding the inside surround desiccant pattern A, and internal desiccant pattern (having a thinner film thickness than the inside surround desiccant pattern A) surrounded by the inside surround desiccant pattern A are formed on the sealing board by one time screen printing. For this purpose, a screen mask is utilized on which opening patterns for the inside and outside surround desiccant patterns A, C and an opening pattern having a narrower opening width than the opening patterns for A and C for forming an internal desiccant pattern are formed. With this configuration, it has been achieved to manufacture a highly reliable organic EL display apparatus in more simplified process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Fukuoka, Nobuyuki Ushifusa, Issei Takemoto, Yoshinori Ishii
  • Patent number: 7303305
    Abstract: A ceiling tile system comprises modular acoustic light-emitting modules which can be of a standard size to be fitted into a hung ceiling or other ceiling system in conjunction with similar acoustic light-emitting modules or conventional ceiling tiles. Each acoustic light-emitting module includes a backing panel, a cover, and a rigid spacing member extending between the backing panel and the cover, with solid state light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arrayed within each module. The cover may be made of fabric including metallic threads to enhance the diffusion of light. In one embodiment, two arrays of LEDs are provided on respective modules. The arrays may be driven independently or together. The LEDs provide shades of white light or colored light, as desired. The cover and lighting elements may be readily removable from the backing panel for ease of maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kennedy & Violich Architecture, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sheila Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7290902
    Abstract: The present invention provides A direct-type backlight having: a resin sealing member including at least one resin layer, which has a light reflecting section formed on the outermost surface of the resin sealing member; an optical semiconductor element sealed by the resin sealing member; and plural circular light scattering grooves formed concentrically on at least one surface of the resin layer, wherein an area of a circle in the center and an area among the respective concentric circles are substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Suehiro, Yuji Hotta, Naoki Sadayori, Noriaki Harada, Kazuki Uawada
  • Patent number: 7287870
    Abstract: An illuminated display system or assembly. In particular, the illuminated system is designed to display various food items such as wedding cakes, hors d'oeuvres, buffets, pies, and the like. The assembly includes a plurality of plates and sheets adapted to be engaged to form enclosures for lighting. Lighting is secured to the sheets within the enclosures. The assembly further includes one or more pillars each adapted to engage the plates and to house additional lighting. The invention also includes methods of assembling the display system and methods of displaying and illuminating the various food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Inventor: Joanne J. Knoch
  • Patent number: 7287896
    Abstract: A light access can be integrally formed with a light guide on at least one end of the light guide. A printed circuit board with an LED lamp mounted thereon can be press-fitted in the light access for transient arrangement, and can be fixed by a cover. The position of the printed circuit board can be determined in relation to the light guide. For example, engagement hooks of the light access can be fitted with recesses in the printed circuit board for positioning the circuit board in a plane normal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide. Similarly, positioning ribs of the light guide can be employed for positioning in the longitudinal direction of the light guide. The light guide can be formed in an almost rod shape having four sides in section normal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide. A light guide lens can be formed in one surface and a diffuser cut can be formed in the opposite surface of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidefumi Okamoto, Toshiyuki Kondo, Shinichi Ito