Patents Assigned to Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7520650
    Abstract: Illumination configurations employ optical elements configured to organize divergent light from an LED light source into collimated beams having a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the LED. Alternative optical elements organize light from a row of LEDs into planes perpendicular to a plane including the optical axes of the LEDs. Pairs of optical elements are configured to define a cavity for receiving an LED. One optical element may be employed to organize approximately one half of the light generated by the LED, with the remainder being permitted to radiate from the LED in its usual pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7517120
    Abstract: A mounting foot assembly including a base member with a front wall having a front surface and a foot member with a rear wall having a rear surface. The foot member is adjustably secured to the base member with the rear surface of the rear wall being in facing relationship with the front surface of the front wall of the base member, whereby the angular position of the base member relative to the foot member may be varied. A bracket may be mounted on the foot assembly having a rear crossbar portion adapted to be positioned in a cross channel in the base member and a forward portion extending down in front of the rear wall of the foot member to which a light unit may be attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090045933
    Abstract: A compact warning light employs LED lamps as a light source and has a lighthead configured for insertion into the reflector shells of a motor vehicle such as a sedan or SUV. The lighthead has a base and cover which define a sealed interior space surrounding the LED lamps. The base is constructed of heat conducting material and the LED lamps are secured to the base so that heat generated by the lamps is conducted away and dissipated by the base. The base may include a post for supporting a plurality of individually energized arrays of LED lamps. The cover may be optically clear, tinted or provided with facets or a surface texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Todd J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7429917
    Abstract: An embodiment of an LED warning light includes a plurality of LED banks, each including a series of light emitting diodes. LED failure in one or more banks can result in a warning light that appears to be functional, but may not meet relevant standards for light production. The LED warning light monitors current flow through each LED bank to detect failure of an LED and produce a failure signal. The LED warning light includes a microcontroller programmed to evaluate the failure signals and take one or more pre-determined failure mode actions. Failure detection and failure mode actions are defined by program steps taken by firmware running in the microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Fredericks, Kenneth S. Lemieux
  • Patent number: 7404658
    Abstract: A light bar snap bracket assembly includes an elongated rail member, multiple light modules, and multiple snap brackets. The light modules are disposed within the rail member channel in a line of light modules extending longitudinally from a first light module disposed at the first end of the rail member to a last light module disposed at the second end of the rail member, the line of light modules defining pairs of adjacent light modules. One of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate each light module in each pair of light modules, one of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate the first light module and the first end of the rail member, and one of the snap brackets is disposed intermediate the last light module and the second end of the rail member. Arm segments of each snap bracket extend longitudinally over tabs extending from the light module sides, of the adjacent light module half portion, with the tabs being received within the notches of the arm segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon H. Lyons, Jeffrey A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7158019
    Abstract: An integrated LED warning and vehicle lamp according to aspects of the present invention has a base configured to directly replace an existing vehicle lamp by reception into the lamp's reflector shell. The integrated warning and vehicle lamp includes a first radial array of LEDs dedicated to producing the vehicle warning and/or illumination formerly produced by the vehicle lamp and a second radial array of LEDs dedicated to producing an emergency warning light signal. The second radial array may be electrically connected to an axial LED. The LEDs are supported by a lamp support at a location near the focus of the reflector shell. An interface electrical circuit modifies the electrical energy formerly fed to the vehicle lamp to a form appropriate for the LEDs in the first array. A warning signal electrical circuit energizes the second array of LEDs to produce the emergency warning light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7118261
    Abstract: An aircraft position light employs selected colored LEDs to produce a white appearing warning light with a reduced light component in the amplification spectrum of night vision imaging equipment. A combination of amber and cyan LEDs are selected to produce approximately three amber flux units for every cyan flux unit resulting in a white composite light. Both of the selected LEDs have dominant wavelengths of less than 600 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Fredericks, Todd J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7116294
    Abstract: Several driver circuits for energizing series arrays of LEDs are disclosed. The LED driver circuits incorporate programmable microcontrollers and switching regulators in circuits that permit precise control of current applied to the series array of LEDs. One driver circuit senses the condition of a SYNC line such that the light emission pattern of multiple LED light sources, each with a driver circuit connected to the SYNC line may be coordinated without need for a central controller. Another driver circuit applies an overdrive current to the LEDs for a first pre-determined time period, then ramps down the applied current to a sustainable level. A four channel driver circuit provides each channel with electronic switches arranged to simultaneously turn on and electrically connect a constant current source to an LED array, resulting in abrupt turn on and turn off of the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Stopa
  • Patent number: D579370
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon H. Lyons, William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D583695
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Grote, Jr.
  • Patent number: D584180
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D587155
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon H. Lyons, William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D589834
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon H. Lyons, William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D589835
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D589836
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D591187
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D591188
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D593428
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon H. Lyons
  • Patent number: D595172
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Pokorny
  • Patent number: D600584
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc
    Inventor: Jon H. Lyons