Patents by Inventor Michael Tucker

Michael Tucker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060291214
    Abstract: An LED light source (10) has a substantially planar housing (12) transversely arrayed about a longitudinal axis (14) and including a through-hole (16) in a first surface (17) thereof. A planar, heat conductive support (18) is positioned with the housing, the planar heat conductive support (18) having a front side (20), a back side (22) and a center point (24) coaxial with said longitudinal axis (14). LEDs (26) are mounted on the front side (20) and are arrayed about the center point (24). A base (28) supports the planar, heat conductive support (18) and is fixed to the housing (12). A heat sink (30) is in thermal contact with the base (28) and extends outwardly of the housing (12). A connector (32) is formed with the housing (12) for receiving electrical input to the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Michael Tucker, Charles Coushaine
  • Patent number: 7143909
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for delivering a controlled quantity of a granular material. The dispenser includes a container assembly, a diffuser and a metering cup. The container includes a reservoir which supports a disposable cartridge of granular material. The cartridge is supported in the reservoir so as to define a passageway therebetween. A nozzle is defined for the outflow of material from the cartridge. The diffuser is disposed on one end of the container and includes a plurality of apertures. The metering cup is disposed on the opposite end of the container and has an open end adapted to receive granular material. Adjustment of the axial spacing between the nozzle and metering cup varies the quantity of granular material collected in the cup. The granular material is dispensed by inverting the container to a second orientation, such that material flows out of the metering cup, through the passageway and out of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Peterson, Michael Tucker, Peter Elliot, James E. Johanson, Fedor Baranov, Innesa Baranov, Keith E. Antal, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20060254634
    Abstract: A walking aid device for assisting a user to walk by presenting a true 3-D obstacle that is automatically activated during normal use of a cane or walking support, to which the device is attached proximal to the floor end, and during use when in an extended position is non-parallel to the floor surface, is perceived by the user to be an obstacle over which the foot on the same side of the user's body must step. A method of use providing for attaching the device to the cane or walking support and using it in a cycle that produces a walking-type motion for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Tucker
  • Publication number: 20060253964
    Abstract: A moisture-barriered, body-contact protective interface structure including a core, viscoelastic, acceleration-rate-sensitive cushioning structure, and a moisture-barriering container surrounding the cushioning structure, with the container being operable to block the flow of moisture while accommodating gas breathability for the cushioning structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Dennis, Michael Tucker, Gerhard Paasche
  • Publication number: 20060220990
    Abstract: The multi-color light lamp has a base divided into a plurality of segments. The three segments are spaced at 120 degrees. More or less segments can be used. An LED is positioned in each segment, the LED in each segment emits a color distinct from the light emitted by the LEDs in the other segments. If the lamp is to be used for automotive purposes, the LED in a first segment emits red light as a taillight and a stop light, the LED in a second segment emits yellow light a turn signal lamp, and the LED in the third segment emits white light as a backup light. A light pipe is operatively associated with the LEDs in each segment for directing emitted light away from the base. The LEDs (preferably two per segment) are mounted upon a thermally efficient printed circuit board such as a flex-on aluminum board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow
  • Publication number: 20060221613
    Abstract: A virtual point light source (10) has a support (12) having an axis (14), a plurality of individual light emitting diodes (16) positioned on the support (12); and an individual optic (18) associated with each of the light emitting diodes (16), each of the individual optics (18) focusing the light from its associated light emitting diode (16) to a virtual point (20) on the axis (14) at a distance (D) from said support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow, Ralph Johnson, Steven Sidwell
  • Patent number: 7111972
    Abstract: An LED lamp assembly may be formed from a support plate with a first side and a second side. A plurality of LED light sources are arranged and mounted on the first side of the support plate. An axially extending, light transmissive, light guide having an input end with an area sufficient to span the mounted LED light sources, is disposed adjacent the LED light sources to capture their emitted light. The light guide has at least one light deflector. The input end of the light guide is disposed to receive light emitted by the LED light sources and to conduct such light axially through the light guide to the deflector for projection sideways at an angle to the axis so as to appear s if the deflecting surface is a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow
  • Patent number: 7111971
    Abstract: An LED lamp and a method of making an LED lamp in which the lamp includes a heat conductive post with a base and a top, an insulative body within the post that includes plural wireways and plural electrical leads that each extend through a different one of the wireways and whose ends emerge from the top and the base of the post, a head with plural LED assemblies on the top of the post, and a circuit board for the LED assemblies at the base of the post, the leads being connected to respective LED assemblies and to the circuit board. During manufacture, the leads are mounted in the wireways of the insulative body and the assembled body is inserted into the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Paul R. Lyman
  • Publication number: 20060187671
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp (10) has a first light source (12) for illuminating an area forward of the light source (12). The first light source (12) is preferably a filamented tungsten halogen capsule or an arc discharge source. The first light source (12) is arrayed along a longitudinal axis (14) and emits substantially white light. A second light source (16) in the form of a plurality of light emitting diodes is arrayed about the first light source (12), and the second light source (16) emits light via an optic 42 for providing a daylight running light. Via the optic 42 light is emitted in a forward direction as well as toward the reflector to increase the lighting area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Thomas Tessnow, Michael Tucker
  • Publication number: 20060182130
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of establishing communication between endpoints located in different gatekeeper zones. An electronic message comprising (i) an alias for a first endpoint and (ii) an address of a first gatekeeper associated with the first endpoint is delivered from a first computer associated with the first endpoint to a second computer associated with a second endpoint. Alternatively, the deliverance of the message can occur within the same computer. Upon receiving the message, a second endpoint is instructed to replace its original gatekeeper address with the gatekeeper address listed in the message. Subsequently, the second endpoint uses the alias of the first endpoint to establish communication with the first endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Roni Even, Amit Keynan, Michael Tucker
  • Patent number: 7090386
    Abstract: A high-density LED array (10) capable of presenting a density of X LEDs/unit area has a first printed circuit board (12) having X/2 LEDs/area and X/2 apertures arrayed therewith. A second printed circuit board (22) is spaced from the first printed circuit board (12) and has X/2 LEDs 28/unit area. The LEDs (28) on the second printed circuit board are aligned with the apertures (20) in the first printed circuit board. Each of the LEDs (28) on the second printed circuit board (22) has an optical fiber (30) associated therewith and each of the light guides (30) extends through one of the apterures (20). Each of the mounted LEDs on the first printed circuit board can have an optical fiber associated therewith and the light guides can be bundled to direct light to a remote source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow, Ralph J. Johnson, Steven C. Sidwell
  • Patent number: 7077194
    Abstract: A jumper tube assembly for a heat exchanger includes a first connector block having an attachment portion engaged to the heat exchanger, an outlet and an inlet for receiving refrigerant from the heat exchanger. A second connector block includes an attachment portion engaged to the heat exchanger, an inlet and an outlet. A jumper tube extends between the first and the second connector block. The jumper tube includes an inlet connected to the outlet of the first connector block and an outlet connected to the inlet of the second connector block. The jumper tube inlet and the jumper tube outlet are brazed to the respective first and second connector blocks. The first and second connector blocks are brazed to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wisniewski, Michael Tucker
  • Publication number: 20060109654
    Abstract: A lamp assembly (10) that comprises a reflector (12) for directing light in a given direction. An aperture (14) is formed in the reflector (12), substantially in the base thereof, and a thermally conductive post (16) is fitted in the aperture (14) and has a first surface (18) within the reflector and a second surface (20) outside of the reflector. The post (16) is preferably a metal such as copper. A single, side emitting, LED light source (22) is fixed to the first surface (18), preferably via an electrically insulating but thermally conductive member (23). A heat sink (24) is fixed to the second surface (20) and preferably is an inherent part thereof to insure good heat conductivity between the post (16) and the heat sink (24). Circuitry (26), which can be mounted on a printed circuit board, is associated with the LED source (22) for supplying power thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow
  • Publication number: 20060087861
    Abstract: A light gathering module (10) has a body (12) with a first end (14) comprising a single light transmitting surface (16) and a second end (18) having a plurality of arms (20), each arm (20) having an independent light gathering terminus (22) that is rectangular. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first end (14) of the body also is rectangular. The light gathering module (10) can be fabricated from acrylic, plastic, glass or other suitable material and preferably has no cladding so that light output I maximized. When combined in a housing (32) with a projector lens (34) the light gathering module (10) provides a vehicle headlamp (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Tessnow, Michael Tucker, Ralph Johnson, Steven Sidwell
  • Publication number: 20060072320
    Abstract: An LED lamp and a method of making an LED lamp in which the lamp includes a heat conductive post with a base and a top, an insulative body within the post that includes plural wireways and plural electrical leads that each extend through a different one of the wireways and whose ends emerge from the top and the base of the post, a head with plural LED assemblies on the top of the post, and a circuit board for the LED assemblies at the base of the post, the leads being connected to respective LED assemblies and to the circuit board. During manufacture, the leads are mounted in the wireways of the insulative body and the assembled body is inserted into the post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Paul Lyman
  • Patent number: 7008095
    Abstract: An LED lamp and a method of making an LED lamp in which the lamp includes a heat conductive post with a base and a top, an insulative body within the post that includes plural wireways and plural electrical leads that each extend through a different one of the wireways and whose ends emerge from the top and the base of the post, a head with plural LED assemblies on the top of the post, and a circuit board for the LED assemblies at the base of the post, the leads being connected to respective LED assemblies and to the circuit board. During manufacture, the leads are mounted in the wireways of the insulative body and the assembled body is inserted into the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Paul R. Lyman
  • Publication number: 20060032572
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a plural-layer, body-contacting protective and cushioning interface structure including the steps of (a) providing at least a pair of viscoelastic, non-springy, acceleration-rate-sensitive core layers, (b) facially bonding these two core layers using curable and initially wet, flowable adhesive which is based upon a solvent of one character, and thereafter (c) completing the fabrication by the application of a curable, and initially wet, flowable barrier-layer material to form a fully moisture-impervious but gas-permeable coating barrier layer which substantially completely encloses the bonded core layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Dennis, Michael Tucker, Gerhard Paasche
  • Publication number: 20060023467
    Abstract: An LED light source has a housing having a base. A core projects from the base; is substantially cylindrical and is surrounded by tubes. The core and the base are arrayed about a longitudinal axis. A circuit board in the base supports LEDs. Each of the LEDs is positioned with one of the tubes in a one-to-one relationship at one end of the core. A heat sink is positioned in a heat-transferring relationship with the circuit board and a first reflector is attached to another end of the core. To direct the light emitted by the LEDs from the source to the reflector, the interior of the tubes can be plated with a highly reflective material. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is fitted with a light guide, each light guide extending from a position immediately above one of the LEDs to a position adjacent the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow
  • Patent number: 6991355
    Abstract: An LED light source has a housing having a base. A core projects from the base; is substantially cylindrical and is surrounded by tubes. The core and the base are arrayed about a longitudinal axis. A circuit board in the base supports LEDs. Each of the LEDs is positioned with one of the tubes in a one-to-one relationship at one end of the core. A heat sink is positioned in a heat-transferring relationship with the circuit board and a first reflector is attached to another end of the core. To direct the light emitted by the LEDs from the source to the reflector, the interior of the tubes can be plated with a highly reflective material. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is fitted with a light guide, each light guide extending from a position immediately above one of the LEDs to a position adjacent the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: OSRAM Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow
  • Publication number: 20060013000
    Abstract: A lamp assembly comprising: a side-emitting LED light source, a planar substrate having a first side and a second side, said LED light source being mounted in a center region of said first side, leaving an edge region of the first side extending circumferentially around said LED light source; said substrate having a portion of high thermal conductivity in thermal contact with said LED light source; a reflector having a reflective surface defining a concave cavity with an opening in a direction toward a field to be illuminated and having a through passage extending into said cavity; said LED light source being extended through said passage and having light emitting surfaces facing said reflective surface, said edge region being circumferentially sealed to said reflector, and electrical connections extending through said planar substrate connecting said LED light source to a supply of electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: OSRAM SYLVANIA INC.
    Inventors: Charles Coushaine, Michael Tucker, Thomas Tessnow