Patents Examined by Danielle Allen
  • Variable condenser for delivery of illumination including recursively nested circle to-line fiber optic converter cable
    Patent number: 8113702
    Abstract: A variable condenser for delivery of illumination, including a recursively nested circle-to-line fiber optic shape-converting cable and a focusable input lens system. At the input of the fiber optic cable, sets of individual optical fibers comprise successively smaller annuli recursively nested about a common center. At the output of the fiber optic cable, the sets of individual optical fibers comprise pairs of line segments recursively nested about the line midpoint, whereby the nesting level of the pairs of line segments has an exact or an approximate correspondence to the nesting level of the annuli. The output may be split into a plurality of lines, whereby the sets of individual optical fibers are distributed among the plurality of lines. The input lens system has a single adjustable focus means to vary the radius of an illumination spot incident upon the input of the fiber optic cable circle input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert Feke
  • LED assembly
    Patent number: 8109652
    Abstract: An improved LED assembly comprises a frame and a circuit substrate. The frame has a slot, which has an opening on the upper surface of the frame. An elongated inverted L-shaped structure is formed on either side of the opening, and one or more conductive strips are formed on the inner side of the elongated inverted L-shaped structure. Therefore, electricity may be supplied to the conductive strips of the frame. In assembly, the circuit substrate is slid into the slot of the frame so that each of the conductive strips of the circuit substrate is engaged with the corresponding conductive strip of the frame. Therefore, electricity from the electric source may be fed from the source through the conductive strip of the frame and the conductive strip of the circuit substrate and then to the light-emitting units so that each of the light-emitting units may be powered up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Ya-Huei Chen
  • Light-emitting apparatus
    Patent number: 8104923
    Abstract: The light-emitting apparatus (1) of the present invention includes: a storage case (12) that includes a base board (10) having a concave portion (10a) and a lid portion (11) covering the concave portion (10a); and a plurality of light-emitting elements (13) that are disposed on an inner surface (12a) of the storage case (12), an opening (11a) is formed in the lid portion (11), at least a part of the inner surface (12a) is a light-reflecting surface that wave-guides light emitted by the light-emitting elements (13) as light sources to a position directly underneath the opening (11), and a reflecting portion (15) that reflects the light emitted by the light-emitting elements (13) as the light sources toward the opening (11a) is formed directly underneath the opening (11a). Thereby, the light-emitting apparatus having a point light source with high brightness can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Nagai
  • LED headlamp system
    Patent number: 8104939
    Abstract: A solid-state light source (10) comprising a plurality of LED units (12) arrayed to emit light generally about an axis (14). Each of the LED units (12) can comprise a number of LEDs, for example, up to five. They may all emit in a single color or multiple colors can be combined for a specific effect. A light transmissive light guide (16) is associated with the LED units (12) and has a plurality of input widows (18). Each LED unit (12) faces a respective input window (18) and each window (18) transversely intercepts the axis (14) and receives light from the LED units (12). The input windows (18) lead to a common output window (20) that is axially aligned with the input windows (18). The light guide (16) has smooth sidewalls (22) that extend between the input windows (18) and the output window (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Angela Hohl-Abichedid, Ralph Johnson, William E. Meyer, Thomas Reiners, Thomas Tessnow, Michael Tucker, Ralf Vollmer
  • Direct backlight module supporting apparatus and direct backlight module
    Patent number: 8100548
    Abstract: A direct backlight module supporting apparatus and a direct backlight module are provided. The direct backlight module comprises a backboard, an optical film, at least one light source and at least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus. At least one light source is fixed on the backboard; and at least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus is placed between the backboard and the optical film, wherein the direct backlight module comprises a base and a main body. The base is fixed on the backboard. The main body is a pillar formed on the base. The main body has an opening stretching down from the top of the main body to make a backlight projected to the top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus. The top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus supports the optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignees: AU Optronics(Suzhou) Corp., Ltd., AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Dong-Ming Shen
  • Illuminated tile systems and methods for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 8092034
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a lighted tile system, comprises a first tile. The first tile comprises a tray that comprises a floor, one or more walls coupled to a perimeter of the floor, and a cavity defined at least in part by the floor and the one or more walls. The first tile also comprises a ceiling coupled to the tray and located substantially opposite the floor of the tray, and a substrate located between the floor of the tray and the ceiling. One or more light sources are coupled to the substrate to shine a light from the one or more light sources in a substantially uniform pattern towards the ceiling. The ceiling is at least partially translucent to permit at least part of the light from the one or more light sources to shine through the ceiling. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: James R. Zarian, Richard d. Ashoff
  • Single color LED clusters for image generation
    Patent number: 8083378
    Abstract: A display device for increasing brightness of an image generation, including a color cluster system, is provided. The system includes a first color LED cluster having at least a first LED of a first wavelength within a first color range and a second LED of a second different wavelength within the first color range. The light from the first LED may be combined at least partially with light from the second LED The system further comprises a second color LED cluster having at least a first LED of a first wavelength within a second color range and a second LED of a second different wavelength within the second color range. In the second color LED cluster, the light from the first LED may be combined at least partially with light from the second LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: David Kerry Kiser
  • LED lamps including LED work lights
    Patent number: 8066402
    Abstract: Work light has LEDs that may require heatsink. Desired radiation pattern achieved by using optical components designed to produce beam or LEDs may have beams in different directions. Radiation pattern of LEDs may be changed by refractive-reflective optics or by convex lenses. Convex lenses may be hemispheres, other planoconvex shapes, concavo-convex shapes, or other shapes. Curved surfaces on any lenses may be spherical or aspheric. Ballast to operate the LEDs from line voltage AC or low voltage DC. Work light may contain batteries. The work light may be mounted on a stand. May have accessory mount. May have charging station. May have a paging transmitter to activate a paging receiver in work light. May have openings for heat transfer from heatsink to ambient air external to light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Brasscorp Limited
    Inventor: Donald L. Klipstein
  • Lighting system with reflector that moves in a periodic manner
    Patent number: 8052309
    Abstract: The present invention concerns lighting systems and particularly active lighting systems which are capable of providing automated changing lighting effects. The lighting system comprises a light source (50), a deflector (10) positioned within the path of light emitted by the light source, and a reflector (20) wherein at least one of the reflector and defector is moveable relative to the other of the reflector and the defector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Jacob Dyson
  • Display device, backlight module of such display device, and method of fixing circuit board on such backlight module
    Patent number: 8047668
    Abstract: A backlight module includes at least one light source, a lamp cover and a circuit board. The lamp cover has a containing portion and at least one projection. The containing portion is arranged for containing the light source. The projection is located at an outer side of the containing portion on which the circuit board is placed so that at least one fixing portion of the circuit board is in contact with the projection for constraining movements of the circuit board relative to the lamp cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Jen Chang, Shun-Nan Chang
  • Headlight assembly for a motorcycle
    Patent number: 8042979
    Abstract: A headlight case, that houses a light body, is made small in size. The light body includes a reflector, and a lens attached to the reflector. The light body is pivotally supported in the headlight case by bolts extending through a ring member extending around the light body, so that an aiming operation can be performed. The ring member is connected to the light body behind the lens, and is locked to the headlight case at a position spaced away from an open edge thereof. A ring body of the ring member has an outer shape smaller than a maximum outer shape of the light body. A rim, to be fitted around the open end of the headlight case, has a lead that extends toward a position spaced away from the open end of the headlight case, to be fitted into a concave part of the headlight case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Osugi, Naoki Murasawa
  • Lighting apparatus
    Patent number: 8042973
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus comprises a housing and a first reflector. The first reflector is mounted beneath the light source and includes a plurality of segmented reflectors, each having at its top, a installation hole and at its bottom, an opening wider than the installation hole. A second reflector is positioned beneath the first reflector. The height of the second reflector causes a first light shielding angle defined by a straight line passing through the installation hole and the bottom edge of the corresponding segmented reflector to be larger than a second light shielding angle defined by a straight line passing through the bottom edge of the segmented reflector and the bottom edge of the second reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Inoue, Keiichi Shimizu, Sumio Hashimoto, Hirokazu Otake, Mitsuhiko Nishiie, Takuro Hiramatsu, Masatoshi Kumagai
  • Waterproof assembly of LED lamp cup
    Patent number: 8033687
    Abstract: A LED lamp cup includes a heat-conducting substrate, a LED unit, a casing and a light-transmitting lamp cover. The casing can be detachably assembled with the heat-conducting substrate or the light-transmitting lamp cover easily. Further, the casing or the light-transmitting lamp cover is configured that it can be retained from outside toward inside, so that the casing may not rotated reversely after being assembled with the heat-conducting substrate or the light-transmitting lamp cover. Thus, the biasing force exerted on the first and second waterproof gaskets may not be reduced to enlarge the gap. Thus, the penetration of moisture can be prevented to achieve a good waterproof effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Pyroswift Holding Co., Limited
    Inventor: Pei-Choa Wang
  • Illumination device, method of assembling illumination device, and liquid crystal display device
    Patent number: 8033708
    Abstract: There is provided an illumination device equipped with a light guide plate, a light source unit having a plurality of point like light sources for supplying light to the light guide plate and a light source holding member for holding the point like light sources, the light source unit being disposed to oppose an edge face of the light guide plate, and a housing for holding the light guide plate and the light source unit. The light source unit is constituted so as to be inserted in and extracted from the housing by a slide mechanism that can be slid along the edge face of the light guide plate, and the light source unit is equipped with a spacer for assuring a gap between the edge face of the light guide plate and the light sources at a slide insertion side end of the light source unit with respect to the housing when the light source unit is slidingly inserted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Tsubaki
  • Optical assembly, backlight unit having the same, and display apparatus thereof
    Patent number: 8033676
    Abstract: The backlight unit may include a plurality of optical assemblies, which each include a light emitting module having a substrate, a plurality of light emitting devices on a top surface of the substrate, and a connector provided on a bottom surface of the substrate and electrically connected to a power supply unit. The optical assembly may also include a light guide plate including a first part through which the light is received and a second part to output the light, which is laterally received from the first part, through a top surface thereof. A first side cover may be provided over the light emitting module and the first part of the light guide plate. A second side cover may be formed under the light emitting module and the light guide plate, the second side cover having a plurality of connector holes. The connector may be provided in one of the connector holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kum Tae Lee, Min Sang Kim, Moon Jeong Kim, Sung Young Park, Jeong Hwan Kim
  • Lamp with light emitting diodes using alternating current
    Patent number: 8029170
    Abstract: Provided is an LED lamp for AC power. The LED lamp for the AC power can replace a related art halogen lamp. Since the bottom of an LED substrate for AC power is allowed to directly contact an inner upper surface serving as a substrate base of a main body with a built-in heatsink where heatsink pins are formed in an entire outer peripheral surface, so that heatsink operation of heat generated while the LED for the AC power operates is maximized. A reflection funnel whose inner surface is entirely chrome-deposited extends on the upper end of the main body with the built-in heatsink to reflect light while the LED for the AC power is lit, so that the intensity of illumination can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Gwangsung Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Choong Hae Lee
  • Clip and illuminant device
    Patent number: 8021015
    Abstract: A plurality of clipping portions which clip a plurality of lamps to be juxtaposed are provided on one face, and a mounting portion to be mounted on a supporting member by which the lamps are supported, and holding projecting portions for holding positions of the clipping portions with respect to the supporting member are provided, and two flexible portions which can bend in a direction in which a distance between the supporting sections is changed are provided between at least two clipping portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Yokota, Masaki Okazaki, Hiroki Fukai, Hideto Takeuchi, Masaki Shimizu
  • LED illuminating device
    Patent number: 8021023
    Abstract: An LED illuminating device includes an optical module and a heat dissipation device. The optical module includes a plurality of LEDs. The heat dissipation device includes a housing and a heat sink. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of spaced fins formed on the base. The LEDs are thermally attached to a heat absorbing surface formed at a bottom of a bottom plate of the housing. The heat sink and the housing cooperatively define a hermetical chamber therebetween. A closed sidewall of the chamber is sandwiched between the base of the heat sink and the bottom plate of the housing. A wick structure is received in the chamber and attached to the heat dissipation device at a periphery of the chamber. A working fluid is filled in the chamber and saturated in the wick structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tay-Jian Liu
  • Optical plate and backlight module using the same
    Patent number: 8016472
    Abstract: An optical plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface defines a plurality of elongated arcuate troughs therein. The second surface defines a plurality of triangular pyramid depressions and a plurality of hexagonal pyramid depressions therein. Each side of the triangular pyramid depressions borders three hexagonal pyramid depressions. A backlight module using the optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Lamp lite
    Patent number: 8016461
    Abstract: Metal ornamental body for a hanging (ceiling) light (single white light bulb) fixture consists of three possible units, from simple to complex: single (in red, R), double (in green, G), corner (in blue, B), with a more complex unit(s) possible. The three lightweight materials, of metal, wire and/or plastic, are all derived from six modular pieces that slot and/or join together with lightweight metal or plastic rods. These inexpensive units can be grouped, are portable and disposeable. Designed, used and installed per current National Electrical Code, lamp light bulb socket/wire/wall plug assembly is packaged separately, and/or sold with/without accessories separately. Packages, posters, postcard, logos, light units and all designs and colors are with the digital world in mind: R 255+G 255+B 255=white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Theresa Marie Bextermiller Metzger