Curved Surface Patents (Class 362/347)
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Patent number: 5459649Abstract: A flashlight which selectively provides an enhanced spot beam and fully illuminated broad beam. The modified parabolic reflector produces with either a point source of light or an extended filament source of light a spot beam which is substantially more uniform across its disc as is produced by a conventional parabolic reflector, and a greatly improved broad beam without unilluminated areas. Further, the range of distance in which these effects are provided is importantly increased.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1993Date of Patent: October 17, 1995Inventor: M. Edmund Ellion
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Patent number: 5448843Abstract: An illuminated sign apparatus comprised of a reflector with dedicated cavities which are formed by having the perimeter walls of each cavity conform precisely to each individual area of the sign desiring illumination, typically alphabetic characters and the background area they create. The bottom walls of these cavities will project towards the viewers eye parabolically. The midpoint of the cavity, when viewed in cross section, is to be slightly less in height than that of the cavity-defining perimeter walls. The perimeter walls have point source lights such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) distributed along their surface. These cavities may be filled in with transparent substance, fully encapsulating the LEDs thereby eliminating any reflective air space and facilitating light diffusion. The light sources may be provided with circuitry allowing unique powering to each of the individual cavities, resulting in the possibility of a variety of different display effects.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1993Date of Patent: September 12, 1995Assignee: Spectralight Signs and Lighting, Inc.Inventor: Steven Schwartz
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Patent number: 5448462Abstract: A multiple element reflector usable with an elongated light source in a strobe unit provides wide fields of view in both horizontal and vertical directions when the unit is mounted on a wall. The reflector includes a first, elongated, curved reflector element which extends generally parallel to the elongated light source. At least second and third centrally located reflector elements extend between the first reflector element and the light source. The first reflector element provides illumination generally in horizontal and vertical directions perpendicular to the elongated source. The second and third centrally located reflector elements provide illumination in a direction generally along the elongated source.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1993Date of Patent: September 5, 1995Assignee: Pittway CorporationInventor: Walter J. Moran, III
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Patent number: 5442533Abstract: A linear light source for a film scanner includes an elongated light integrating cavity, formed within a light integrator, having diffusely reflective walls. Light is introduced into the cavity through an input port, and an output scan line of diffuse light is produced through an exit slit which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the integrating cavity. The scan line of light is directed on film to be scanned in a stripe of illumination. The scan line of the illuminated film stripe is imaged onto a tri-linear CCD array for conversion of color intensity modulated pixels into scan line data sets. The linear light beam is reflected from a source region within the integrating cavity visible through the exit slit. In order to make the brightness profile of the linear light beam more uniform and avoid position dependent signal level drop outs, sharp angle joints in the source region are replaced by arcuate sections.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1994Date of Patent: August 15, 1995Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Martin C. Kaplan
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Patent number: 5430634Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation source, such as an arc lamp, is located at a point displaced from the optical axis of a concave toroidal reflecting surface. The concave primary reflector focuses the radiation from the source at an off-axis image point that is displaced from the optical axis. The use of a toroidal reflecting surface enhances the collection efficiency into a small target, such as an optical fiber, relative to a spherical reflecting surface by substantially reducing aberrations caused by the off-axis geometry. A second concave reflector is placed opposite to the first reflector to enhance further the total flux collected by a small target.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1992Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Cogent Light Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Glenn Baker, Karlheinz Strobl, Douglas Brenner, Robert L. Piccioni, Robert Fischer, Michael Thomas
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Patent number: 5420771Abstract: A thin illumination device providing uniform luminance distribution on the diffusing plate comprising a reflecting plate, linear light sources arranged in the vicinity of the reflecting plate and a diffusing plate arranged on the opposite side of the reflecting plate with regard to the light sources, section of the reflecting plate having a shape of continuous curves having different curvature.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1993Date of Patent: May 30, 1995Assignee: Dai-Ichi Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Katoh, Nobuhisa Noguchi, Teruo Hoshi
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Patent number: 5418420Abstract: An arc lamp embodiment of the present invention comprises a triplet set of annular reflectors that gather light from an arc created between an anode and a cathode into essentially parallel beams that exit along the longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical lamp through a sapphire window. A first of the three reflectors has a concave parabolic shape that reflects light out along the lamp axis in one bounce. A second of the three reflectors has a concave elliptical shape with a rear projecting focus and is back to back with the first reflector such that the open bowls of the reflectors face in opposite directions along the axis of the lamp. A third of the three reflectors has a convex parabolic shape that receives light bounced from the second reflector and gives it a second bounce out through an opening in the first reflector and then through the window, parallel to the lamp axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1993Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: ILC Technology, Inc.Inventor: Roy D. Roberts
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Patent number: 5410463Abstract: A lighting ornament comprised of a socket internally coated with a magnetic substance, a light emitting device fastened inside the socket to give light, at least one hollow ball respectively and peripherally coated with an inner layer of a magnetic substance of the same magnetic polarity of the magnetic substance on the socket and then coated with a fluorescent coating, whereby the at least one hollow ball is respectively floated within the socket by means of the effect of the magnetic repulsion force to reflect the light of the light emitting device in all directions.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1993Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Inventors: Lai D. Jean, Ching P. Wu
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Patent number: 5408363Abstract: A reflector for radiation disseminated by a radiation source is of a shape with which the reflector curve of intersection in a plane including an axis (A) of the reflector and the radiation source comprises segments (S1-A1, A2-B2) of different conics whose merging is edge-free. These conic segments are joined directly and the tangents at the point of contact (A1,A2) of two joined conic segments are alike. A method of generating such a reflector is indicated as well.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1992Date of Patent: April 18, 1995Inventor: Tetsuhiro Kano
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Patent number: 5406462Abstract: An apparatus includes a reflective surface for high efficiency collection, transmission and emission of light. Light collected by an ellipsoidal and hyperboloidal portion of the reflective surface is directed into a light guide. Additionally, a paraboloidal portion may be added and used in combination with a lens element to distribute the light reflected by the reflective surface in a beam pattern. When used as an emitter lens profile is smaller than the overall diameter of the reflective surface. When used as a collector, the reflective surface receives and concentrates light onto the end of a light pipe.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1994Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Amir Fallahi, Donald J. Jagos, Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Mahendra Dassanayake, Jeffrey A. Erion, John X. Li
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Patent number: 5394317Abstract: A lamp reflector comprises a pre-formed member molded from a polymer into a smooth and continuously curved shape. The members have a rigidity characteristic sufficient for maintaining its shape. A reflecting layer is bonded directly to the molded member to provide a reflector surface without facets or sharp angles. The shape of the member is comprised of a rear portion being an involute spline and side portions being defined by conic sections. The method of providing such a reflector decreases the amount of light reflected back into the lamp and trapped or absorbed within the lighting fixture. The method further eliminates the need for adhesive layers between the metal reflecting layer and the substrate which generally decreases the optical efficiency of the luminaire.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1992Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Inventors: John J. Grenga, Richard P. Eannarino
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Patent number: 5369528Abstract: Reflector for source of radiation, of the plane or cylindrical type, constituted by two reflector elements disposed symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the reflector, each reflector element is constituted by at least one cylindrical part of which the generatrices are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reflector, the cross-section of this cylindrical part being constituted by a curve such that the rays reflected by the respective ends of this curve constitute two end rays forming respective angles with the plane of symmetry, all the rays reflected on the reflector element being included between the respective angles.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1992Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: Association pour la Recherche et le Developpement des Methodes et Processus Industriels - A.R.M.I.N.E.S.Inventors: Ari Rabl, Jeff M. Gordon
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Patent number: 5361193Abstract: A reflecting surface consists of three reflecting sectors arranged around the optical axis. The first reflecting sector located above the horizontal plane including the optical axis is a part of a paraboloid of revolution having a focus at point F. The second reflecting sector consists of two sub-sectors located on the right and left sides of the vertical plane including the optical axis. A fundamental surface of the two sub-sectors has a reference parabola in a plane inclined from the horizontal plane by a predetermined angle, and is a collection of intersecting lines each obtained by cutting an imaginary paraboloid of revolution assumed for a point on an orthogonal projection of the reference parabola onto the horizontal plane by a vertical plane including an axis of the imaginary paraboloid of revolution. The third reflecting sector located below the horizontal plane is a part of a paraboloid of revolution having a focus at point G.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1993Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naohi Nino
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Patent number: 5345140Abstract: An electric lamp arrangement includes a reflector (10) having first and second mirror walls (12 and 22), which in axial sections are curved according to circular arcs (13, 23), the centers of which lie in an area between lines (15, 16) enclosing angles .beta. and .gamma. with a plane P defining the largest diameter (d), and in an ellipse-shaped area Q, respectively. The reflector has a relatively small, light-emitting window (30) of at most 0.7 d, disposed opposite a lamp base (1). An electric light source (3) is disposed within the reflector (10) near plane P and an axis (11). The reflector (10) may be integral with a lamp vessel (5) to give a reflector lamp or a pressed-glass lamp. Alternatively, the light source may have an envelope and may be secured within the reflector to constitute a lamp-reflector unit. The reflector effectively shapes radiation emitted by the light source into a wide beam of high intensity.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1992Date of Patent: September 6, 1994Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventor: Petrus A. J. Holten
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Patent number: 5335152Abstract: A nonimaging illumination optical device for producing selected intensity output over an angular range. The device includes a light reflecting surface (24, 26) around a light source (22) which is disposed opposite the aperture opening of the light reflecting surface (24, 26). The light source (22) has a characteristic dimension which is small relative to one or more of the distance from the light source (22) to the light reflecting surface (24, 26) or the angle subtended by the light source (22) at the light reflecting surface (24, 26).Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1991Date of Patent: August 2, 1994Assignee: NiOptics CorporationInventor: Roland Winston
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Patent number: 5289356Abstract: A nonimaging illumination or concentration optical device. An optical device is provided having a light source, a light reflecting surface with an opening and positioned partially around the light source which is opposite the opening of the light reflecting surface. The light reflecting surface is disposed to produce a substantially uniform intensity output with the reflecting surface defined in terms of a radius vector R.sub.i in conjunction with an angle .phi..sub.i between R.sub.i, a direction from the source and an angle .theta..sub.i between direct forward illumination and the light ray reflected once from the reflecting surface. R.sub.i varies as the exponential of tan (.phi..sub.i -.theta..sub.i)/2 integrated over .phi..sub.i.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1991Date of Patent: February 22, 1994Assignee: NiOptics CorporationInventor: Roland Winston
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Patent number: 5285361Abstract: An apparatus for providing illumination to flat panel displays having a multi-walled encasement device, lighting means and a flat panel display. The multi-walled encasement device may be of a variety of shapes and serves to support the lighting means within the cavity formed by its walls. The fluorescent bulb is fabricated into a circular design and placed within the multi-walled encasement device thereby providing uniform light intensity across the flat panel display attached to the encasement device. The encasement device may contain convex or concave contouring to better direct or concentrate light wave intensity to the flat panel display.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1992Date of Patent: February 8, 1994Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventor: Robert C. McKillip
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Patent number: 5278738Abstract: A wall light fixture is disclosed which includes a hollow generally translucent bowl. The bowl has an upwardly opening recess formed therein and a reflector is mounted in the bowl within the recess. The reflector has a predetermined light reflective pattern in order to reflect light from a source contained within the reflector to reflect light upwardly relative to the frame and laterally to at least a portion of the transparent bowl so that the bowl reflects light within it to provide an entirely luminous surface on the bowl.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1993Date of Patent: January 11, 1994Assignee: Lam Lighting Systems, Inc.Inventor: Glenn M. Illes
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Patent number: 5276600Abstract: A planar reflector is composed of a base and a flexible substrate having a high reflection layer formed thereon and overlayed on the base with an adhesive layer interposed between the high reflection layer and the base. The adhesion strength between the base and the substrate is at least 100 g/cm, and the thickness of the adhesive layer is not smaller than 0.5 .mu.m but not greater than 50 .mu.m. A curved reflector can be obtained by bending the planar reflector so that a curved surface having a radius of curvature not greater than 5 mm is formed presenting a concave surface on a side of the flexible substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1992Date of Patent: January 4, 1994Assignee: Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mitsuo Takase, Nobuhiro Fukuda
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Patent number: 5264999Abstract: Described is a light screen with curved outside reflectors and perpendicular cross lamellas with roughly V-shaped cross-section, each of which is inserted into the outside reflectors through corresponding cut-outs, whereby the walls of the cross lamella feature bracket edges on the top which are arranged on the inside of the outer reflectors. In order to attach the cross lamella to an outside reflector by machine in a simple manner, a straight lip on the bottom of the cross lamella is designed as a bracket edge and can be driven into the outside reflector, ana the walls of the cross lamella feature outward breaks which penetrate the cut-out in the outside reflector and when locked rest against the outside of the outside reflector.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1991Date of Patent: November 23, 1993Assignee: Zumtobel AGInventor: Georg Kempter
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Patent number: 5258897Abstract: A vehicular headlight reflector for forming a low beam light-distribution pattern by effectively utilizing the entire reflecting surface, and providing a light-distribution control function so that a pattern image generated substantially by a lower half surface of the reflector is located below the horizontal line and as close to the horizontal line as possible. A filament is arranged between a focus F of a reference parabola and a reference point D offset from the focus F so that its central axis extends in parallel with an axis passing through the parabola vertex O and the reference point D. A virtual paraboloid is assumed for each arbitrary point P on the reference parabola, the virtual paraboloid having an optical axis that extends in parallel with a light ray vector of a reflected light ray obtained when a light ray assumed to have been emitted from the reference point D and reflected at the point P, passing through the point P, and having the point D as its focus.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1991Date of Patent: November 2, 1993Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naohi Nino
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Patent number: 5253151Abstract: A luminaire including one or more fluorescent tubes and associated reflectors for use in backlighting a projection type liquid crystal display matrix. The reflectors have special arcuate shapes designed to forwardly project light to the display matrix and also to direct diffuse light outward from behind the fluorescent tubes so that all of the light generated by the tubes can be efficiently projected for use in illuminating the display matrix.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1991Date of Patent: October 12, 1993Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventors: Thomas A. Mepham, Roger D. Eller, Gerald L. Vick
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Patent number: 5249111Abstract: A reflector includes a plurality of cylindrical bands having reflective outer surfaces and arranged about a common axis. The bands are sized and spaced such that, when mounted in front of a convergent beam spotlight, they prevent the rays of light from converging at a point so as to generate an intense heat which could damage a filter material, for example.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1991Date of Patent: September 28, 1993Assignee: Morpheus Lights, Inc.Inventor: Brian E. Richardson
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Patent number: 5235470Abstract: A reflecting surface which is open at least at one axial end and in an axial section conforms to an axial section through a geometric surface generated by rotating a parabolic curve about an axis normal to the parabola axes. An elongated source/sink extends along the axis of the reflecting surface and is at least partly enveloped by that surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1991Date of Patent: August 10, 1993Inventor: Dah Y. Cheng
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Patent number: 5224770Abstract: The light box is provided with a case having arranged therein a reflector directed to the front wall to be illuminated from the rear. The reflector surf ace has a concave curvature. An elongated light source is arranged in the center of the case. The reflector, in the central area thereof, is covered by an optical film having a structured surface directed to the light source. This structure consists of immediately adjacent V-shaped grooves, being parallel to each other and running transverse to the extension of the light source. By total reflection on the structured surface of the transparent optical film as well as by reflection on the reflector surface of the reflector, the light of the light source incident on the reflector is reflected in the direction of the back-lit front side of the light box. This arrangement provides for improved and more-uniform light distribution.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1991Date of Patent: July 6, 1993Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Adrian Simmons, Alberto de la Cruz Garcia, Roberto Casalone
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Patent number: 5205632Abstract: A task light is disclosed which has a base which is releasably securable to a support surface. A light reflector cavity is shaped to provide different zones of light intensity. A longitudinal light source is positioned within the cavity and a peripheral rim member of varying surface area about the lamp base serves to diffuse the light by reflecting a portion of the light and allowing a portion of the light to pass therethrough. The light reflecting cavity has a particular profile for providing a desired light distribution and is angled relative to the base, which is also of a particular shape having varying sized sidewalls to enhance the light distribution. In a preferred embodiment, the base, the peripheral rim and the light reflecting cavity all cooperate for ease of assembly and manufacture of the components.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1992Date of Patent: April 27, 1993Assignee: Esmond Manufacturing Inc.Inventor: Jonathan Crinion
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Patent number: 5201576Abstract: A shadowless illumination system (10) according to the present invention includes a spherical chamber (14) having a chamber entrance opening (18) and a chamber exit opening (20). The inside surface (32) of the spherical chamber is coated with highly reflective flat white paint. A clear rigid plastic cylindrical tube (22) is positioned in the spherical chamber between the chamber entrance and exit openings. A circular fluorescent ring lamp (36) is positioned inside the spherical chamber to form an annulus around the tube. The lamp and the white inside surface of the spherical chamber provide shadowless illumination for articles (30) that are dropped or otherwise projected through the tube. The articles are inspected as they pass through the tube by at least two video inspection cameras (52 and 62) that view opposite sides of the articles through respective viewing openings (44 and 48). Whenever no articles are present in the image plane of a camera, the lamp provides a saturated background for the camera.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1992Date of Patent: April 13, 1993Assignee: Simco/Ramic CorporationInventor: Henry P. Squyres
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Patent number: 5195814Abstract: A strobe unit in which a reflecting mirror is located behind a light source. The strobe unit includes an imaginary semielliptical reflecting mirror having a major axis located on an axis of illumination that passes through the center of the light source. Imaginary quarter-elliptical reflecting mirrors are formed by splitting the imaginary semi-elliptical reflecting mirror along the major axis into two mirror elements which are spaced a predetermined distance from one another in a direction perpendicular to the major axis. The reflecting mirror is defined by modified quarter-elliptical reflecting mirrors which are symmetrical in shape with respect to the axis of illumination and have a continuous smooth reflecting surface that extends between open ends of the imaginary quarter-elliptical reflecting mirrors, and ends which are adjacent to the light source and located between the imaginary semi-elliptical reflecting mirror and quarter-elliptical reflecting mirrors.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1992Date of Patent: March 23, 1993Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sachio Hasushita, Takayuki Ito
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Patent number: 5192962Abstract: A converging reflector comprises a linear light source having two end points located with a predetermined spacing therebetween, a first reflection surface having a curvature so as to have a focal point at one of the two end points, and a second reflection surface having another curvature so as to have a focal point at the other of the two end points. Accordingly, a light from the linear light source is incident onto the first and second reflection surfaces. Thus, this reflector can project a light as an ideal plane of projection, resulting in improved projection efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1992Date of Patent: March 9, 1993Assignee: Pioneer Electronic CorporationInventors: Masami Nishida, Masataka Izawa, Kunimoto Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 5186537Abstract: A thin illumination device providing uniform luminance distribution on the diffusing plate comprising a reflecting plate, linear light sources arranged in the vicinity of the reflecting plate and a diffusing plate arranged on the opposite side of the reflecting plate with regard to the light sources, section of the reflecting plate having a shape of continuous curves having different curvature.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 1991Date of Patent: February 16, 1993Assignee: Dai-Ichi Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Katoh, Nobuhisa Noguchi, Yutaka Kikuchi, Isamu Kaneko, Teruo Hoshi
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Patent number: 5160199Abstract: A halogen lamp reflector assembly includes a ceramic material paraboloid light reflecting element having an inner surface which is coated by gold oxides so as to provide the inner surface with very high light reflecting properties, coaxially arranged with respect to the paraboloid element there being restrained a socket element for receiving the halogen lamp of the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1990Date of Patent: November 3, 1992Inventor: Franco Berti
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Patent number: 5146393Abstract: A fluorescent light fixture is provided to illuminate a rearwardly adjacent wall. An upper reflector reflects light from a forwardly offset fluorescent light bulb in a downwardly and rearwardly oblique direction to illuminate lower areas of the rearwardly adjacent wall. A lower reflector with an upper edge directed substantially toward a central portion of the fluorescent light bulb reflects light substantially horizontally to illuminate uppermost area of the rearwardly adjacent wall where the wall abuts the ceiling. A throttle plate controls the amount of lamp exposed to the lower reflector for intensity control. A glossy white series of reflective surfaces approximating an involute curve gathers output from the fluorescent light bulb for redirection from the specular portion of the upper reflector without hot spots or striping on the wall. The lamp is rotationally positioned to maximize the amount of output controlled by the optic system.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1991Date of Patent: September 8, 1992Assignee: Genlyte, Inc.Inventor: Roy B. Crane
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Patent number: 5142459Abstract: A fluorescent indirect lighting fixture of the hidden source offset reflector type incorporates a novel reflector mounting system which provides advantages of extended uniform "wash" illumination with unusual concealment of the light source from direct view, along with extremenly easy reflector installation and replacement. The reflector, formed to the required special curvature from a thin sheet of suitable metal such as high purity aluminum, is sprung into place between two opposite edges of a window opening in the metal fixture housing in a tongue-and-groove type engagement along the two edges where it is retained in place by the resilience of the reflector with no need for adhesives, screws or other fastenings. Illumination coverage and lamp concealment are both maximized by configuring the reflector and its mounting system uncompromisingly such that both of the straight end regions of the curved reflector extend smoothly and fully to a plane flush with the surrounding ceiling or wall surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1991Date of Patent: August 25, 1992Inventors: Ralph W. Swarens, Anatoly Kudishevich
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Patent number: 5136491Abstract: A reflector for a lamp has a form which in a section containing the optical axis 1 lies between two curves enveloping the reflector section curve R. The enveloping curves may be two ellipses, two parabolas or an ellipse and a parabola.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1990Date of Patent: August 4, 1992Inventor: Tetsuhiro Kano
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Patent number: 5117343Abstract: Given a reflector arrangement in a device that is employed for the individual illumination of objects, high demands must be made of the durability of the mirror layers to be applied onto carriers. Considerable difficulties result in satisfying this demand, particularly given large-area reflector arrangements which are exposed to weather. In order to overcome these difficulties, the reflector arrangement is designed with shell carriers of transparent material that are designed tub-shaped and which have a vapor-deposited mirror layer provided on the side of the shell. This mirror layer is durably protected with suitable cover techniques against environmental influences which deteriorate or destroy it.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1991Date of Patent: May 26, 1992Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Max Kerscher, Gerhard Stempel
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Patent number: 5096280Abstract: A light source apparatus for separating a white light into light components of a plurality of colors, includes a white light source and at least two dichroic mirrors. Each mirror selects a light with a particular wavelength band from a visible light so as to transmit the light with the selected wavelength band therethrough. The mirrors reflect light with a wavelength band other than the selected wavelength band so that the transmitted wavelength bands of the mirrors are different from each other. The mirrors are arranged opposite to each other with respect to the white light source. The apparatus also includes condenser lenses which are combined with each of the dichroic mirrors. The light reflected by each of the dichroic mirrors is returned to the white light source.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1990Date of Patent: March 17, 1992Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Hamada
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Patent number: 5090804Abstract: A method and apparatus (2) for inspecting the surface quality of automotive parts (38) having smooth surfaces (44) utilizes a light source (4) and diffusing surface (6) contained in an opaque enclosure (8). The diffusing surface has a convex shape and is arranged relative to the light source to direct a gradient of light through the aperture (10) in the form of a beam. An object to be inspected is placed in the beam at a low angle relative to the inspection apparatus. All extraneous light is controlled and the beam is reflected off the object to an observer. The gradient in the reflective beam exposes any defects on the surface that are located on the beam and the location of the defects is noted. The inspection system and method can be used to inspect objects having surfaces that range from being highly reflective to lowly reflective. The curvature and location of the diffusing surface within the enclousre is adjustable. The size and location of the aperture is also adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1990Date of Patent: February 25, 1992Assignee: Virtek Vision Intelligence Robotics Technologies CorporationInventors: Andrew K. Wong, Mohamed S. Kamel, John T. King
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Motor vehicle headlight having a reflector of complex surface shape with modified intermediate zones
Patent number: 5086376Abstract: A motor vehicle headlight of the type comprising a lamp having a filament (100), a reflector (200) defining an optical axis (Ox), and a closure glass (300), the filament emitting light freely in all radial directions thereabout and the reflector having a smooth and essentially continuous reflecting surface which reflects the rays emitted by the filament in such a manner as to cause the majority of them to be situated beneath a cut-off (hHc; hh) constituted by two half-planes of given height and slope.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1989Date of Patent: February 4, 1992Assignee: Valeo VisionInventor: Eric Blusseau -
Patent number: 5075827Abstract: A luminaire of the indirect lighting type includes an indirect light fixture amplification reflector system consisting of plural opposed compound asymmetric reflectors mounted on a common longitudinal axis and used in combination with each other to produce a uniformly enlarged singular light distribution pattern when directed towards a secondary reflective surface such as the ceiling of an interior room cavity. The reflector functions to distribute the light pattern in a primarily outward rather than upward manner thereby reducing the number of luminaries required for efficient illumination. The reflector shape prevents direct exposure of the lamp source to the secondary surface thereby decreasing the mounting distance required between the luminaire and the secondary surface being illuminated, as well as providing for a more even illumination and the widest possible spacing ratio between luminaries.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1990Date of Patent: December 24, 1991Inventor: David H. Smith
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Patent number: 5067053Abstract: In a headlamp having a light-diverging concave mirror, the inner reflecting surface of the concave mirror is a composite paraboloidal surface of revolution made of multiple different paraboloidal surfaces of revolution taking as common focus a predetermined point on the optical axis and smoothly joined to each other, and the lamp bulb is so disposed as to have the center thereof disposed as substantially coincident with the common focus. Each of the different paraboloidal surfaces of revolution composing the inner reflecting surface reflects the rays incident from the lamp bulb in directions away from the optical axis in a horizontal plane in which the optical axis lies, in directions parallel to the optical axis or in directions nearer to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1989Date of Patent: November 19, 1991Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Ltd.Inventor: Kunio Akizuki
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Patent number: 5064276Abstract: A light source device disposing light sources at both end faces of the transparent plate in which a surface of the transparent plate in the side of an observer (front surface) is formed as the inclined and curved surface in view of limiting reduction in quantity of light per unit area at the observing area being far from the light source within a certain level, the one surface of the transparent plate is formed as the rough surface to diffuse the incident light, the other surface of the transparent plate is formed as a mirror-surface, and a reflecting layer having a high lightness is disposed at the lower side of the transparent plate in order to provide sufficient luminance for observers.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1989Date of Patent: November 12, 1991Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Syuusuke Endo, Naofumi Aoyama, Toshihiko Yabuuchi, Teruo Seki
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Patent number: 5045982Abstract: A dual emitter light assembly employs a reflector having a pair of concave reflector dishes. Each dish is associated with a lamp socket. Each concave dish comprises at least three parabolic reflector surfaces having a common focal point. The axes of the parabolas of revolution which define the reflector surfaces are non-parallel and lie in a common plane, the axis of both dishes lying in the same plane.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1989Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Whelen Technologies, Inc.Inventor: H. Wayne Lyons
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Patent number: 5032958Abstract: A lighting fixture of the wall wash type and being parabolic in cross-section is disclosed which has interchangeable reflector elements for directing light in any desired direction together with snap-in quickly interchangeable lighting fixtures to provide for the use of fluorescent lighting, tracking lighting, incandescent lighting or the like. The lighting fixtures are adaptable to be "ganged" together seriatim in any number needed to provide for the fixture to be of any desired length. Unique power transfer means are provided to provide for electrically connecting the joined lighting fixtures.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1990Date of Patent: July 16, 1991Inventor: Ronald P. Harwood
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Patent number: 5008781Abstract: Disclosued herein is a headlamp unit. The unit comprises a multi-surface concave reflector having a beam axis along which a light beam projects forward to produce a beam pattern, the reflector including upper and lower concave light reflecting parts which are respectively located at upper and lower positions with respect to a given portion of the reflector, and left and right concave light reflecting parts which are respectively located at left and right positions with respect to the given portion and have respective focuses on their respective optical axes, the optical axes being inclined with respect to the beam axis, each of the left and right concave light reflecting parts having respective curves of second degree when cut by vertical and horizontal planes; and first and second filaments of an electric bulb which are located on the beam axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1989Date of Patent: April 16, 1991Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naohi Nino
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Patent number: 5001609Abstract: The principles of non-imaging optics, rather than imaging optics, are used to provide a high power LED illumination lamp that has a specified limited viewing angle. A compound parabolic flux extractor extracts and concentrates light emitted by an LED chip and a light pipe continues the concentration into the specified viewing angle. A lens or a diffusant may be used to modify the light output of the lamp. A light constructed as an array of the lamps is suitable for use as an automobile external light such as a center high mounted stop light.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1988Date of Patent: March 19, 1991Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Robert C. Gardner, David E. Silverglate, Greg P. Smestad, George E. Smith, John F. Snyder
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Patent number: 4991072Abstract: An optical radiation projector includes a reflector having at least two facing reflective surfaces, dimensioned and positioned with respect to each other and a radiation source to satisfy a selected set of dimensional relationships and which further comprises one fraction of a rear reflective part having at least one meridian section of circular arc shape centered axially forward of the radiation source so that the reflected radiation has a point of convergence situated forward of the outermost part of the source and for which the reflected radiation will have a substantially homogeneous distribution on a plane of utilization.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1989Date of Patent: February 5, 1991Inventor: Pierre Malifaud
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Patent number: 4979086Abstract: A luminaire is disclosed for producing uniform rectangular or square patterns of light. The luminaire itself consists of eight, curved main reflector sections which are concentrically located about a bulb mounting location opposite the open side of the housing in which the luminaire is mounted. The main reflector sections are joined together at their edges, such that cross sections of the luminaire in planes parallel to the open side of the housing form octagons of decreasing size as the cross sections are taken at increasingly greater distances from the open side of the housing. The orientation of the main reflector sections is such that alternate points of the octagon are located in alignment with the center of the bulb placed in the center of the reflector sections and corners of the area to be illuminated.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1990Date of Patent: December 18, 1990Assignee: Lowering Systems, Inc.Inventor: Richard V. Heinisch
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Patent number: 4974138Abstract: A lighting device having a light source L and a reflector R positioned behind the light source is disclosed in which a three-dimensional configuration is given to the reflector R with the aid of the computer so that it can provide a particular reflection pattern to the light reflected by the reflector R. Due to a particular curvature or configuration of the reflecting surface of the reflector R, the light rays emanating from the light source and reflected at any point on the reflecting surface intersect or cut across each other at innumerable different points in space. Further, the reflector is provided with a three-dimensional curvature or shape so that it can give the incident light rays a preselected luminous flux distribution. The lighting device is adapted for application in a variety of uses enabled by its special reflection paths of light rays.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1988Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Inventor: Masataka Negishi
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Patent number: 4964025Abstract: The principles of nonimaging optics, rather than imaging optics, are used to provide an asymmetrical flux extraction cup for an LED illumination lamp that has an asymmetrical limited viewing angle or cutoff angle. The cup has a flat section in the bottom normal to the optical axis, for attachment of the LED. In a cross section of one side of the cup, there is a circular section extending from the flat section to a lower point located at an intersection with a line from the opposite cup lip through a nearest edge point of a top surface of an envelope in which the LED is positioned. Next is a lower parabolic section extending from the lower point to an upper point located at an intersection with a projection of the top surface of the positioning envelope. The lower parabolic section has a vertex at the lower point, an axis projecting through the nearest edge point and the lower point, and a focus at the nearest edge point. Then there is an upper parabolic section extending from the upper point to the cup lip.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1989Date of Patent: October 16, 1990Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: George E. Smith
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Patent number: RE34492Abstract: A .[.collimated.]. light source is provided which combines the functions of lamp and integrating sphere into one unit for efficiently coupling radiant energy from a gas discharge to a lightguide. The light source is electrodeless and comprises an integrating sphere coated with a light-reflective material and containing a gaseous fill. To excite a discharge current in the fill, the sphere is encircled by a coupling coil driven by an RF power source, or the sphere is enclosed in a microwave cavity. Light exits from the sphere through a light-transmissive window to a lightguide.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1991Date of Patent: December 28, 1993Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Victor D. Roberts