Patents Assigned to Lighting Systems
  • Patent number: 6964506
    Abstract: A light reflector having a row of light reflecting segments separated by fold lines, wherein one segment is located at a top of the row and another segment is located at a bottom of the row. A pair of wings is connected at the sides of the row, each one of the wings including a plurality of light reflecting segments separated by fold lines, wherein at least some of the light reflecting segments of the row and at least some of the light reflecting segments of the wings form a shell-shaped arrangement wherein at least some light reflecting segments of the row and at least some light reflecting segments of the pair of wings are bent at their respective fold lines whereby the arrangement is generally curved along an imaginary line connecting the one segment and the another segment and generally curved along an imaginary line perpendicular to the first mentioned line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Allied Lighting Systems, INC
    Inventors: Peter C. Sara, Steven C. Donner, Henry M. Avila
  • Patent number: 6955592
    Abstract: An air outlet device (1) for vehicles, in particular airplanes, comprises a panel (2) with at least one receiving opening, an air outlet (3) arranged in the receiving opening, and a sealing means (6) sealing the air outlet (3) and the panel (2) against each other. At the panel (2) and/or the air outlet (3), a securing means (8) is configured, it serves to mount the air outlet (3) to the panel (2). During the assembly of the air outlet device (1), the securing means (8) holds the air outlet (3) in a defined position in the panel (2) so that curing adhesives can be used as sealing means (6) without any problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Pieper, Thomas Kessler, Christian Finke, Rolf Broelemann
  • Publication number: 20050185399
    Abstract: A colored light for the passengers of a passenger transportation means, in particular for the cabin of an aircraft, comprises a plurality of illuminating means, each emitting electromagnetic waves in a narrow-band wavelength range, wherein the wavelength ranges preferably do not overlap each other. Further, the colored light is provided with a drive unit for driving the illuminating means such that a soothing or stimulating effect on the passengers can be achieved via the color sensation of the human eye and the thus triggered (bio-) chemical processes in the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Beermann, Ulrich Scheithauer, Rolf Broelemann, Bernhard Mueller, Carsten Geske, Frank Gronemeier, Rico Schulz, Steffen Roebke
  • Patent number: 6887147
    Abstract: An air outlet device for a vehicle, especially for an aircraft, comprises a nozzle body with an air intake opening and an air outlet opening. The air outlet device further comprises a holding element formed with an accommodating opening having the nozzle body supported therein for rotation about a longitudinal axis extending through the air intake opening and the air outlet opening, and a valve body arranged coaxially within the nozzle body and guided by the holding element. Upon rotation of the nozzle body, the valve body can be displaced in the nozzle body between a closing position for blocking the air outlet opening and a maximum opening position for clearing the air outlet opening to the maximum extent. The valve body is of a hollow configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Thomassin, Frank Poehlau, Klaus Kurz
  • Patent number: 6874730
    Abstract: A covering element for the interior the interior of a vehicle, particularly an aircraft, is provided with at least a first and a second covering portion each of which comprises a covering wall with a front side pointing to the interior of the vehicle in the installed state and a rear side Each covering portion also includes a width extension and a longitudinal extension directed transverse thereto to one another. The covering walls of the two covering portions overlap each other, and the second covering portion is supported so as to be displaced substantially in the direction of its longitudinal extension and/or to be pivoted about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal and width extension-on the first covering portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Harasta
  • Patent number: 6848653
    Abstract: The operating and/or display unit for installation above the seats in vehicles, in particular in aircraft, is provided with a ceiling-mounted element (24) having a front and a rear side (26,28), operating elements (18,22) and/or optical display elements arranged on the ceiling-mounted element (24), at least one electric and/or electronic component arranged on the rear side (28) of the ceiling-mounted element (24), and a covering hood (32) adapted to be attached to the rear side (28) of the ceiling-mounted element (24) and to cover the component. The covering hood (32) comprises projecting hook elements (40,42) for clampingly holding an electric cable (34), and a cable passage (36). The hook elements (40,42) are arranged side by side, and a plurality of hook elements (40,42) face in opposite directions relative to each other. Two adjacent hook elements (40,42) facing in opposite directions are offset to obtain an undulating cable routing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Finke, Rolf Broelemann
  • Patent number: 6836411
    Abstract: An operating device for a vehicle, such as an airplane or a bus, includes a board that is adapted to carry electronic circuits, and at least two catch hooks for receiving the board between them. Each of the catch hooks has a contact portion for retaining the board and a base part for supporting the contact portion. The base parts of the catch hooks face each other, and the contact portions face away from each other. When the board is loaded, the catch hooks are pressed towards the respectively other catch hook which results in that the catch hooks lean more and more firmly against the board when force is induced onto the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Yvonne Slowig, Rolf Broelemann
  • Patent number: 6814331
    Abstract: The device (10) serves for removably fastening a first part, particularly a covering element, to a second part installed in a vehicle and particularly in an airplane. The device is provided with a fastening element (18) having a first end (24) for attachment to the first part and a second end (36) for attachment to the second part. The second end (36) of the fastening element (18) is provided with an abutment portion (38) for abutment on the second leg (64) and the support element (78) of the second part, a locking portion (46) to be locked to the free end of the second leg (64) of the second part, the locking portion (46) being flexible and adapted to be moved, while generating a restoring force, from a locking position into a release position, and an actuating portion (56) for manually moving the locking portion (46) from the locking position to the release position thereof, and a grip-around portion (42) for gripping around the second part in the transition region of the two legs (62,64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: André Hessling
  • Patent number: 6786618
    Abstract: An aircraft position light for an aircraft is provided with a luminous device for emitting light and a reflector arrangement. The luminous device comprises a first and a second light source, which emit light within a light radiation solid angle, the two light sources being arranged symmetrically to the preferential axis and central axes of the light radiation solid angles being inclined so as to face each other. The reflector arrangement comprises a first and a second reflection surface allocated to the first and second light source, respectively. The first reflection surface is arranged opposite to the first light source and the second reflection surface is arranged opposite to the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Rico Schulz, Sascha Lueder, Bernd Ganzer
  • Patent number: 6744210
    Abstract: A system for enabling successful use of HID lamps in aircraft, including in particular high power lamps for use as landing lights and taxi lights, utilizes a sealed beam HID lamp which during normal operation has an external temperature considerably lower than the external temperature of a quartz halogen or incandescent sealed beam lamp of equivalent light output. The lower external temperature arises in part from the use of a gas fill in the sealed beam. A detector is provided to monitor the seal integrity of the sealed beam HID lamp and further to provide a response to seal failure resulting in disablement of the lamp. Exemplary ways for accomplishing seal failure detection include radioactive detection, pressure monitoring, and chemical sensing, or other ways wherein detection of a failed seal is followed by an electrical output used to terminate or preclude lamp operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Goodrich Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Petrick
  • Patent number: 6742915
    Abstract: A lamp apparatus includes a pair of concentrically positioned lamp shades and a light source positioned centrally within an inner one of the lamp shades. The lamp shades are bell shaped so as to direct light from the light source downwardly without passing through either one of the lamp shades. The outer one of the lamp shades is formed of a transparent glass or plastic with a thin film optical coating of randomly variable thickness on its inner surface. The inner one of the lamp shades is formed of a translucent glass or plastic. Standard lamp hardware is used to assembly the apparatus into a functional lamp assembly. When the light source is not illuminated, the outer shade appears as a metallic or chrome color, and when it is illuminated, the outer shade appears transparent and the inner shade appears to have a rainbow colored effect. Downward directed light is not colored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Bruck Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jurgen Westerheide
  • Patent number: 6732976
    Abstract: A device for fastening a first part to a second part, particularly for fastening a lining element in the interior of a vehicle, for example an aircraft, is provided with at least one fastening element connectable with the first part and releasably attachable to the second part. The fastening element is provided with a locking element that is supported on the fastening element so as to be movable between a disengaged position in which the fastening element is able to be set to the second part and to be detached therefrom, and a pre-locking position in which the fastening element is held at the second part. Further, the fastening element comprises an actuating element for moving the locking element between the disengaged position and the pre-locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: André Hessling, Bodo Wisch
  • Publication number: 20040005853
    Abstract: An air outlet device for a vehicle, especially for an aircraft, comprises a nozzle body with an air intake opening and an air outlet opening. The air outlet device further comprises a holding element formed with an accommodating opening having the nozzle body supported therein for rotation about a longitudinal axis extending through the air intake opening and the air outlet opening, and a valve body arranged coaxially within the nozzle body and guided by the holding element. Upon rotation of the nozzle body, the valve body can be displaced in the nozzle body between a closing position for blocking the air outlet opening and a maximum opening position for clearing the air outlet opening to the maximum extent. The valve body is of a hollow configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems Gmbh
    Inventors: Stefan Thomassin, Frank Poehlau, Klaus Kurz
  • Patent number: 6642856
    Abstract: A recognition light includes a reflector having an axis and first and second annular semi-parabolic reflective surfaces which have respective focal points axially spaced apart from one another, and first and second annular lamps respectively disposed at the focal points. A cover surrounds the reflector and lamps and includes a lens for focusing the light along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the reflector, the lens including first and second Fresnel lens portions each including a convex lens and a prism lens, the convex lenses being disposed adjacent one another and transaxially aligned with the first and second lamps, respectively. A light detector detects light emitted from at least one of the lamps, a monitor circuit provides a fail signal when a characteristic of the light output of at least one of the lamps does not satisfy a specified criteria, and a control circuit first activates the first lamp and then the second lamp in response to receipt of the fail signal of the monitor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Goodrich Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Anthony DeMarco, Raymond Henry Draves, Timothy Scott Kielbon, Todd Christopher Knight, Anish Vikram Patel, Merle Keith Stephens
  • Patent number: 6589109
    Abstract: An air outlet device (10) for a vehicle, especially for an aircraft, comprises a nozzle body (40) with an air intake opening (44) and an air outlet opening (46). The air outlet device (10) further comprises a holding element (14) formed with an accommodating opening (36) having the nozzle body (40) supported therein for rotation about a longitudinal axis (42) extending through the air intake opening (44) and the air outlet opening (46), and a valve body (68), arranged coaxially within the nozzle body (40) and guided by the holding element (14). Upon rotation of the nozzle body (40), the valve body (68) can be displaced in the nozzle body (40) between a closing position for blocking the air outlet opening (46) and a maximum opening position for clearing the air outlet opening (46) to the maximum extent. The valve body (68) is of a hollow configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Goodrich Hella Aerospace Lighting Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Thomassin, Frank Poehlau, Klaus Kurz
  • Patent number: 6582101
    Abstract: A light reflector having a row of light reflecting segments separated by fold lines, wherein one segment is located at a top of the row and another segment is located at a bottom of the row. A pair of wings is connected at the sides of the row, each one of the wings including a plurality of light reflecting segments separated by fold lines, wherein at least some of the light reflecting segments of the row and at least some of the light reflecting segments of the wings form a shell-shaped arrangement wherein at least some light reflecting segments of the row and at least some light reflecting segments of the pair of wings are bent at their respective fold lines whereby the arrangement is generally curved along an imaginary line connecting the one segment and the another segment and generally curved along an imaginary line perpendicular to the first mentioned line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Allied Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Sara, Steven C. Donner, Henry M. Avila
  • Patent number: 6559757
    Abstract: A power line communication system includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) having a sine wave approximator driven by a high frequency clock in the FPGA. The sine wave approximator generates a high frequency sine wave-shaped communication signal on command by a processor. The data transmission scheme includes sending a sequence of fixed length and fixed frequency cells wherein each transmitted cell is of one of four phases 0°, 90°, 180° or 270° (FIG. 2) relative to the phase of a preceding transmitted cell with the first transmitted cell designated as a zero-phase reference cell. The data transmissions are synchronized by the voltage zero crossings of the AC power line and each transmission consists of 27 cells evenly distributed over the AC voltage line half cycle. The high frequency sine wave-shaped communication signal is superimposed on the low frequency (60 Hz) AC power line via a transconductance amplifier which draws current from the AC power line via a full-wave bridge rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Home Tough Lighting Systems LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Deller, Robert C. Heagey
  • Patent number: 6508574
    Abstract: A light fixture suitable for illuminating highway signage and billboards having large surface areas. The fixture includes a curved reflector assembly, shaped generally like a cobra hood that is attached to a plate disposed in a base. The reflector assembly 38 includes a plurality of spectral segments, integrally disposed in bands and rows of the reflector assembly so that an portion of the spectral segments is disposed above the plate, an intermediate portion of the spectral segments is disposed partially above and partially below the plate, and a portion of spectral segments is disposed below the plate surface. A lamp is supported within the fixture for facilitating projecting a substantially rectangularly shaped plane of light distributed in a plurality of substantially rectangularly shaped luminance patterns onto a flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Allied Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Sara, Steven C. Donner, Henry M. Avila
  • Patent number: 6501233
    Abstract: A sports lighting system for a large area at which a sporting event occurs includes light structures at the large area to illuminate at least that portion of the large area where the sporting event occurs. A lighting control unit is disposed at the large area. Included are power connector modules connected to a power bus in a cavity of a housing of the unit. Electrical conductors for each of the light structures connect to a respective one of the power connector modules and to lighting on the respective light structure such that electrification of lighting on all the light structures occurs through the lighting control unit. The cavity preferably accommodates expansion or a remote diagnostic unit and mounting on a ground-mounted concrete stanchion. A related method is also disclosed. The present invention also provides an electrical control unit and a power connector module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Shawnee Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Odell, Ronald N. Odell
  • Patent number: 6454431
    Abstract: A modular cove lighting system is formed of tubular fluorescent light fixtures connected together in parallel. The modular system is capable of providing uniform illumination along its length. The modular system advantageously may include straight lamps, curved lamps (including lamps forming 90° angles), and/or hinged lamp fixtures. The system may be constructed with lamps that are illuminated completely from end to end, which can then be lined up end-to-end to create the illusion of one continuous lamp. Through special matching of ballasts and appropriate lamps, the lamps will dim evenly with each other, regardless of the lengths and shapes of the lamps. Each lamp and ballast is completely contained in a casing to form a cove lighting module. Multicolor systems formed of one or more light fixtures are also disclosed. A recessed light fixture is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Cathode Lighting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Grossman, Richard E. Grossman