Patents Examined by Britt D Hanley
  • Patent number: 11592706
    Abstract: A display may have a pixel array such as a liquid crystal pixel array. The pixel array may be illuminated with backlight illumination from a direct-lit backlight unit. The backlight unit may include an array of light-emitting diodes on a printed circuit board. The backlight unit may include first, second, and third light spreading layers formed over the array of light-emitting diodes. A color conversion layer may be formed over the first, second, and third light spreading layers. First and second brightness enhancement films may be formed over the color conversion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daming Xu, Yufeng Yan, Qingbing Wang, Chenhua You, Rong Liu, Jun Qi, Zhenyue Luo, Mookyung Son, Victor H. Yin
  • Patent number: 11583597
    Abstract: A lighting array including one or more antimicrobial light segments configured to emit light sufficient to inactivate one or more microorganisms at a target surface may be installed within identified contamination zones of food or beverage preparation, processing, storing or packaging equipment or machinery. In an ice machine, for example, an array controller is configured for communication with an ice machine controller to receive ice machine status information signals. The status information signals are usable by the array controller to determine cycle, state, and/or usage information associated with the ice machine. The array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information signals received from the machine controller to achieve inactivation of one or more microorganisms on target surfaces within the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dominic Christian, Paul R. Kraus, Gina McDowell, Amani Babekir, Anna Starobin
  • Patent number: 11585526
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus including an enclosure, a printed circuit board mounted to the enclosure, and an upwardly directed primary light emitting diode in electrical communication with the printed circuit board. The lighting apparatus additionally includes a power source for supplying electrical power to the printed circuit board. The lighting apparatus further includes a transparent dome situated atop the enclosure and covering the printed circuit board, wherein the transparent dome includes an optically unobstructed region in vertical alignment with the primary light emitting diode for passage of an upwardly directed light beam emitted from the primary light emitting diode when powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Exton Capital Corp
    Inventor: Ron Keppel
  • Patent number: 11585498
    Abstract: A channel system that includes a first channel section, a second channel section, and a hinge joint between the first and second channel sections is disclosed. The hinge joint allows the first channel section to fold against the second channel section for storage and shipping of the channel system. In one embodiment, the hinge joint itself includes a hinge member that extends between the two channel sections and bends hingedly to allow movement and two intermediate endcaps, which cap the channel sections on either side of the hinge joint. The hinge joint may be designed to “snap back” to a fully extended position. Mechanical securement structure may be added to the first channel section and the second channel section to improve force and retention during the “snap back” movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Elemental LED, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander L. Findlay, James Edward Stillman
  • Patent number: 11578862
    Abstract: An explosion-proof housing includes at least one metal housing part having at least one of a housing opening or receiving surface, and a support edge bordering said at least one of a housing opening or receiving surface. A cover part covers said at least one of a housing opening or the receiving surface. The cover part includes a peripheral cover edge which is connected to the support edge in an explosion-proof manner such that in the event of an explosion inside the housing, the explosion is prevented from crossing over to an explosive atmosphere surrounding the housing. A plurality of connection points are formed between the support edge and the cover edge. The connection points include interlocking depressions and protrusions. The protrusions are formed by partial melting of the cover edge. The depressions and the protrusions interlock with play in a longitudinal direction of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Reiner Naumann, Jens Burmeister, Toni Ott
  • Patent number: 11572688
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a prefabricated movable photosensitively adjustable solar bionic landscape pavilion capable of being disassembled and constructed quickly. The landscape pavilion comprises a support structure, a ceiling, a movable platform, a linkage system, a lighting system, and an energy system. The support structure is arranged at the center of the movable platform and forms large-area shelter space with the ceiling. The ceiling may rotate around the support structure in the height direction of the support structure, so as to be unfolded or folded. The movable platform is a base of the landscape pavilion, undertakes the support structure and the ceiling above the movable platform, and meanwhile, provides fixing space for the linkage system, the lighting system, and the energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Tongji University
    Inventors: Feng Deng, An Guo, Zishuo Huang, Bingjie Li, Yanbing Qiu, Yunni Gan, Jin Liao, Yonghao Xu, Dehan Li, Peiyu Kong, Yingxin Zhang, Yinan Li, Zhuoqun Zhu, Qilin Wu, Haoyi Ma
  • Patent number: 11543115
    Abstract: A light assembly may comprise a heatsink, a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a lens. The heatsink may include a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface may define an airflow path extending from a first end of the heatsink to a second end of the heatsink. The plurality of light emitting diodes may be coupled to the first surface of the heatsink. The lens may be located over the plurality of light emitting diodes and may contact the heatsink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Adam M. Schimke, Philippe Lapujade
  • Patent number: 11532954
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator for uniformly illuminating an inner space thereof. The refrigerator includes a cabinet including a storage compartment having a predetermined size, a shelf installed in the storage compartment, the shelf including a light source unit for illuminating an inside of the storage compartment, a transmitter connected to an external power supply for wirelessly transmitting power, the transmitter having a primary resonance frequency within a predetermined range, and a receiver for wirelessly receiving the power from the transmitter so as to supply the power to the light source unit of the shelf, the transmitter transmitting the power to the receiver using a secondary resonance frequency generated when the receiver is located close to the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seonghun Lee, Byungsang Jung, Hwanyong Kim, Seungje Park, Sangdoo Ha, Yongjun Son, Seonwook Park, Jaesung Yang, Wonbok Lee, Gyoocheol Choi, Joonggil Jeong
  • Patent number: 11526051
    Abstract: A display may have a pixel array such as a liquid crystal pixel array. The pixel array may be illuminated with backlight illumination from a direct-lit backlight unit. The backlight unit may include an array of light-emitting diodes on a printed circuit board. The backlight unit may include first, second, and third light spreading layers formed over the array of light-emitting diodes. A color conversion layer may be formed over the first, second, and third light spreading layers. First and second brightness enhancement films may be formed over the color conversion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daming Xu, Wei Lv, Pee Khiam So, Wenyong Zhu, Rong Liu, Victor H. Yin, Mookyung Son, Jun Qi, Yufeng Yan, Shaofeng Liu, Thomas O. Henry, Suraj P. Gorkhali
  • Patent number: 11506932
    Abstract: Darkening of the periphery of a light-emitting module in which a plurality of light-emitting units are two-dimensionally arranged is reduced. The present light-emitting module has a light-emitting region including a plurality of light-emitting units two-dimensionally arranged, the light-emitting units each including a light-guiding plate having a first main surface, a first recess opening toward the first main surface, a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and a second recess opening toward the second main surface; a light source inside the first recess; and a light-reflective first member inside the second recess. In each of the light-emitting units, a center of the light-emitting unit and a center of the second recess coincide with an optical axis of the light source in a plan view. In at least one of the light-emitting units, a center of the first member is closer to a center of the light-emitting region than the optical axis of the light source is in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Emura, Toshinobu Katsumata
  • Patent number: 11506523
    Abstract: In a light guide pointer, a vertex portion of a light control space is located on a sub-pointer portion side with respect to a center axis of a light entrance shaft, providing appropriate luminance balance between a main pointer portion and the sub-pointer portion. The light control space includes a circular arc portion, thereby broadening diffusion range of light that has passed through the light control space and preventing attenuation of light traveling along inclined portions. A center of the circular arc portion is located on the main pointer portion side with respect to the center axis, allowing strong light that has entered the light control space from the vertex portion to be diffused more. Local focusing and/or attenuation of light can be prevented, while providing appropriate luminance balance between the main pointer portion side and the sub-pointer portion side, thereby reducing luminance unevenness at the light emitting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasufumi Mochizuki, Terukazu Kuboyama, Ami Shibahara
  • Patent number: 11505904
    Abstract: A road marker apparatus, system and lighting module and corresponding methods of manufacture, installation and replacement. There is a road insert having upwardly facing ridges and an internal cavity with interior surface textures and a tapered front cavity; a boot of incompressible material disposed within the internal cavity of the road insert and form-fit thereto; and a housing body removably disposed within the boot cavity and form-fit thereto. An array of exterior surface textures that operate as a forward operating taper lock between the housing body and the road insert that restricts forward movement and rotation of the housing body with respect to the road insert; and a housing cavity within which one or more physical modules may be disposed. There is a rear lock behind the housing body that prevents rearward displacement of the housing body with respect to the road insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: VIVCOR SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Gregory B. Van Alfen, Shane McKenna
  • Patent number: 11493803
    Abstract: A display device includes a light-emitting module and a light-diffusing sheet stacked body. The light-emitting module includes at least one light guide plate including an upper surface and a lower surface, and light sources disposed at the lower surface side of the light guide plate. The light-diffusing sheet stacked body includes a first light-diffusing sheet disposed on the light guide plate, a second light-diffusing sheet disposed on the first light-diffusing sheet, and a third light-diffusing sheet disposed on the second light-diffusing sheet. The first light-diffusing sheet includes first protrusions at an upper surface side thereof. The second light-diffusing sheet includes second protrusions at an upper surface side thereof. The third light-diffusing sheet includes third protrusions at an upper surface side thereof. A shape of the third protrusion may be different from a shape of the first protrusions and/or a shape of the second protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: NICHIA CORPORATION, KEIWA Inc.
    Inventors: Ryohei Yamashita, Yusaku Achi, Chengheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 11486553
    Abstract: A modular lighting system adapted to be installed in and illuminate an environment. The lighting system includes a first light fixture including a first canopy assembly adapted to engage a desired surface in the environment, a first light-emitting diode (LED) module, and a second LED module. The first LED module has a first connector assembly configured to mechanically and electrically connect the first LED module to the first light fixture via the first canopy assembly, the second connector assembly is configured to mechanically and electrically connect the second LED module to the first LED module, and the first LED module is interchangeable with a third LED module including a third connector assembly configured to mechanically and electrically connect the third LED module to both the second LED module and the first light fixture via the first canopy assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tech Lighting LLC
    Inventors: Sean Lavin, Richard Kim
  • Patent number: 11478114
    Abstract: A toilet seat apparatus according to an embodiment is a toilet seat apparatus to be placed on an upper part of a toilet bowl, the toilet seat apparatus including: a toilet seat on which a user sits; a light emitting unit that emits light; and a light receiving unit that receives light; first memory that stores data received by the light receiving unit; and an arithmetic processing device that executes transfer of data received by the light receiving unit to the first memory, and analysis and deletion of data stored in the first memory, in which the arithmetic processing device transfers the data received by the light receiving unit to the first memory, and deletes the data temporarily stored in the first memory when the data has been analyzed to be data that is not data based on the reflected light from falling feces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Sakai, Satoko Kizuka, Ryo Oi, Takeshi Takaki, Naoya Takeuchi, Hitoaki Higuchi, Masamichi Tosaki, Masayuki Nagaishi
  • Patent number: 11480329
    Abstract: A lighting unit may include a first light-emitting diode (“LED”), a second LED, and a third LED. The first LED may be configured to emit first electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength of between about 600 nanometers (“nm”) and about 740 nm, the second LED may be configured to emit second electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength of between about 500 nm and about 565 nm, and the third LED may be configured to emit third electromagnetic radiation having a third wavelength between about 315 nm and about 430 nm. Thus, the third electromagnetic radiation may be disinfecting UV-A radiation that is incorporated into a lighting unit that produces visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: John Edquist, Eric Johannessen
  • Patent number: 11471547
    Abstract: A light fixture includes a visible light module and a germicidal light module. The visible light module may include one or more visible light engines designed for emitting visible light for general illumination. The visible light module may define a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, and an outer perimeter around the top side and the bottom side. The visible light module may define an aperture extending through the visible light module from the top side to the bottom side. The visible light module may be designed to emit the visible light out of and across the bottom side from the outer perimeter to an inner perimeter defined by the aperture. The germicidal light module may be coupled to the visible light module. The germicidal light module includes a germicidal light engine designed to emit germicidal light through the aperture effective in deactivating pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: John S. Schubert, Konrad Patryk Pietka, Juan A. Rodriguez, Christopher Charles Trechter
  • Patent number: 11466850
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding, for example, suitable for use covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding panel including a light source. The siding panel includes a panel body having a length extending from a first end to a second end, a width extending from a first edge to a second edge, a front face, and a rear face. A first lock extends along the first edge of the panel body and a second lock extending along the second edge of the panel body. A fastening strip is coupled to the first lock. A light source extending along the length of the panel body is secured to the panel body so as to provide light from the front face of the panel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: CertainTeed LLC
    Inventors: David H. Beck, Robert T. Clark, David J. Stucky, Mark G. Suchyna, Conor McDonald
  • Patent number: 11460169
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a voice-controlled speaker device may have a housing. A speaker and other input-output components and control circuitry may be mounted within the housing. Light-emitting components may emit light that passes through a curved upper top cap portion or other housing structure. Some of the light-emitting components may be rotated to improve color balance. Optical structures such as a dual-shot injection molded light control plate may be disposed over the light-emitting components to promote light mixing, reduce hotspots, and improve contrast on the top cap. The light control plate may have an upper clear layer with bell-shaped cavity portions configured to help spread light in the lateral direction and may have a reflective lower layer with dish-shaped portions configured to reflect and diffuse light back towards the top cap. The surface of the dish-shaped portions may be provided with microtextured structures to help scatter light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Rong Liu, Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, Yu P. Sun, Meiting Wu, Paul J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11448458
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door configured to open/close the cabinet, an outer plate defining a front surface of the door and having an opening formed therein to pass through the door, a door liner defining a rear surface of the door, lighting members configured to illuminate storage spaces of the door and the cabinet, a transparent panel assembly mounted to shield the opening and allowing the storage spaces to be selectively seen according to an ON/OFF state of the lighting members, an insulator filled between the outer plate and the door liner, and a blocking part arranged inside the door along a periphery of the transparent panel assembly and detachably coupled to a peripheral surface of the transparent panel assembly to fix the transparent panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chanuk Kang, Hyuk Kwon, Sangmyung Lee