Patents Examined by David R Crowe
  • Patent number: 7588359
    Abstract: An LED light source (10) comprises a heat sink (12) having a body (14) with a front surface (16) and a rear surface (18), the rear surface (18) being provided with heat dissipaters (20). The front surface (16) includes a pocket (22) for the receipt of components (24), the components including at least one LEDs (25) and electrical circuitry therefor. A housing (26) has a flange (28) and a tubular projection (30) fitted into the pocket (22) in a manner to fix the components (24) in the heat sink (12); and an optical light guide (32) having at least one light pipes (34) is positioned in the tubular projection (30), each of the at least one light pipes (34) having a light input end (34a) fixed in light gathering alignment with the at least one LEDs (25) in a one-to-one relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Coushaine, Ralph Johnson, Thomas Tessnow
  • Patent number: 7559679
    Abstract: A vehicle light apparatus has a lamp bulb that is not visible from the outside and a reflecting area that is not conspicuous when the light is on. An inner lens reflects light, from the lamp bulb toward a lens opening and an outer lens attached to the lens opening covers the lamp bulb. A reflecting area having a lower light transmission rate than the outer lens is provided on the tail lens where it opposes the lamp bulb. Light transmission areas having a higher light transmission rate than the reflecting area are provided on the reflecting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Isayama, Niran Thuptimkuna
  • Patent number: 7556404
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light emitting diode (LED) device, a lens and a light diffusing layer. The LED device includes an LED chip, which emits light, and a fluorescent, which converts a part of the light from the LED chip. The lens is located on a side of a light emitting face of the LED device. The light diffusing layer is located between the LED device and the lens. An air layer exists between the light diffusing layer and the LED device or between the light diffusing layer and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nawashiro, Satoshi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7556413
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source that emits light-source light, a light recovery member that is disposed close to the light source in the vicinity of a lateral side of the light source, and has a light receiving surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to an optical axis extending from the light source to the front to face the optical axis or the vicinity of the optical axis, and a rod integrator that uniformizes light-source light from the light source and light-source light reflected by the light recovery member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Kurihara, Norio Nakamura, Makoto Furusawa, Hiroki Sakai
  • Patent number: 7549767
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a luminaire of elongated shape comprising an elongated mounting-plate (1) carrying internal functional components of the luminaire. The mounting-plate comprises at least one lampholder-supporting tongue (3) that is cut out in the mounting-plate by punching. The tongue remains integrally connected to the plate and is capable of undergoing rotation through 90° from an initial position to an in-use position about a bending axis (7) along which the tongue is connected to the plate. The mounting-plate also comprises an abutment (6), produced by stamping, which enables the rotation of the lampholder-supporting tongue to be limited to approximately 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Serge Lavergne
  • Patent number: 7542708
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a transfer assist mechanism is disclosed. The transfer assist mechanism includes a first blade holder having a first blade, second blade holders having corresponding second blades, and a first slide engaging member and a second slide engaging member which engage the first and second blade holders. When the first slide engaging member and the second slide engaging member are moved corresponding to the width of a continuous recording medium, the first blade holder and some of the second blade holders are selected corresponding to the width of the continuous recording medium, and the first blade and some of the second blades corresponding to the selected some of the second blade holders press the continuous recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akitomo Kuwabara, Takeshi Terakado, Hidenori Iwanaga, Yuuki Kikushima, Arinobu Yoshiura
  • Patent number: 7530713
    Abstract: A panel assembly for reflecting and shielding rays of a light source, includes a panel, a light-reflecting member attached to the panel, and a light-shielding board received in the light-reflecting member. The panel includes a base and a bent plate perpendicular to the base. A light-pervious board is disposed on the panel. The light-reflecting member defines an opening opposite to the light pervious mechanism, for reflecting some rays on the light-pervious mechanism through the opening. Wherein the light-shielding board is manipulated to move along a direction vertical to the light-reflecting member. When the light-shielding board is positioned in an upper position, the opening of the light-reflecting member is exposed to allow rays through the light-pervious board. When the light-shielding board is positioned in a lower position, the opening of the light-reflecting member is covered, and no rays are reflected to the light-pervious board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Lung Chen, Yu-Ming Xiao, Xian-Huang Gao, Jian Hu
  • Patent number: 7527386
    Abstract: A light guide has a series of light channels passing through the guide between an outer planar surface and a base. Two resilient arms extend from opposite ends of the guide. The arms have free ends with cap elements for fitting over bosses within an instrument cluster mask. The base of the guide, through a flex action of the resilient arms, forces a dial or appliqué against the mask for viewing through a display window in the mask. In a vehicle instrument cluster assembly, the light guide is located between the mask and a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB has light emitting diodes for fitting into the channels at the planar surface of the guide and backlighting the appliqué. The PCB presses against the cap elements of the resilient arms, causing the base of the guide to force the appliqué against sides of the mask window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Hugo Salinas Fox, Akira Masuda
  • Patent number: 7524093
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is a customized non-rotatable decorative displaying image mechanism wheel assembly. The wheel assembly comprises a wheel mount supportable by of the wheel of a vehicle. A protective cover is affixed to the wheel mount to form a housing with an interior cavity therein. The display holder can be transparent or translucent with any image, logo, emblem, insignia or hologram covering affixed thereto. A display holder and member is positioned behind the protective covering within the cavity of the housing. The display holder is bolted with predefined weighted members and ball bearings such that the display holder and member remain stationary during within the interior cavity as the vehicle's wheel turns. Alternatively, predefined weighted members may not be used for certain design, since shaft members may stabilize image. The display member can be illuminated by a light source which is powered by an electromechanical power source utilizing the Faraday Effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald Sinnette, Patrick Massie
  • Patent number: 7526229
    Abstract: A belt tension mechanism includes a tension roller disposed on a side of a photoconductive belt for pressing the photoconductive belt, a first elastic component connected to the tension roller for providing the elastic force to the tension roller, and a releasing device disposed on the other side of the photoconductive belt. The releasing device includes a actuating component for moving in a first direction and separating from the tension roller when being electrified so that the first elastic component can drive the tension roller to a position where the tension roller can press the photoconductive belt, and a second elastic component connected to the actuating component for driving the actuating component to a second direction opposite to the first direction when the actuating component is not electrified so that the actuating component can drive the tension roller to a position where the tension roller cannot press the photoconductive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Aetas Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Dean Liu, Yi-Long Lee
  • Patent number: 7490971
    Abstract: The planar lighting device includes linear light sources, a light guide plate having a flat light exit surface, a rear surface and parallel grooves formed in the rear surface for accommodating the light sources, respectively, and a support member for supporting the light guide plate with the rear surface. A cross-section of the light guide plate has a rear surface profile including convex portions having the respective grooves and concave portions formed between adjacent grooves, and a thickness in each concave portion decreases from each groove toward either midpoint between adjacent grooves and is thinnest at the midpoint. A cross-section of the support member has a first surface profile of a first surface including a profile identical to a profile of each concave portion of the rear surface profile and a second surface of the support member is a flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7488086
    Abstract: A method and device for replacing a fluorescent tube lamp with an LED lamp. The LED lamp includes an elongated electrical assembly having ends terminating in first and second electrical connectors, and a plurality of LEDs mounted to the elongated electrical assembly. Mounting adaptors connect with the first and second electrical connectors, and have protruding pins to connect with conventional lamp socket connectors. The mounting adaptors have rotating connectors for connecting with the first and second electrical connectors of the LED lamp, so that the LED lamp orientation can be rotated after the LED lamp is fully mounted to the lamp socket connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Leotek Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chen-Ho Wu, Chin-Wang Tu
  • Patent number: 7488097
    Abstract: An LED lamp module designed to be easily retrofitted into existing incandescent based light fixtures with minimum modification is provided. The LED lamp module includes a generally circular metal core board including a first surface and a second surface; at least one LED disposed centrally on the first surface of the metal core board; and a flat annular printed circuit board including a current driver circuit for powering the at least one LED, the annular printed circuit board being disposed around the at least one LED and electrically coupled to the at least one LED, wherein the second surface of the metal core board is configured to contact a host fixture and heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the host fixture. The LED lamp module uses the host light fixture as a heat sink to transfer and dissipate heat to the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: CML Innovative Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Reisenauer, Wojciech Pawelko
  • Patent number: 7476012
    Abstract: A lighting system comprising: an instrument panel having an ashtray and a cigar lighter placed parallel therein in a vehicle width direction; a light emitter; a bulb case extending in the vehicle width direction on a rear surface of the instrument panel above the ashtray and the cigar lighter, and accommodating the light emitter; and a plurality of slits provided in the instrument panel above the ashtray and the cigar lighter, and facing an opening portion of the bulb case, the light emitter being disposed above the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Masayuki Yoshimoto, Katsuhiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7467881
    Abstract: A multipurpose ceiling fixture selectively receives and powers multiple components. A mounting strap supports a lamp socket, a battery socket, and plural power outlets for selected components. A cylindrical lamp housing within the fixture is attached to the mounting strap and a lamp is engaged with the lamp socket. An annular mounting chassis is adapted for receiving a plurality of the components which may include a loudspeaker; detectors of particles, heat, motion, sound and noxious gas; an audible alarm; a video cam; and an intercom. One may select only those components that are of interest to a particular installation and then can install such components into power sockets and on one or another of the several mounting surfaces. Of particular advantage is a mounting chassis that allows components a line of sight lateral to the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventor: Kenneth Clark McMillen
  • Patent number: 7461953
    Abstract: A fog lamp is provided with a light source bulb having a filament as a light source for emitting light, and a secondary light source formed by reflection and collection of the light from the filament; and a reflector having a reflection surface that irradiates the light from the light source bulb forward. The reflection surface of the reflector is constructed so as to irradiate the light from the secondary light source downward of the predetermined cut-off line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ippei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7448774
    Abstract: An illumination optical system, an illumination unit, and an image projection apparatus employing the same are provided. The illumination optical system includes a light source irradiating a diverging light, a reflection optical system condensing the diverging light from the light source, and a lens optical system projecting the light condensed by the reflection optical system. The reflection optical system is comprised of an aspherical concave mirror. The lens optical system comprises a condensing lens having a positive refractive power in a central part and a refractive power of the condensing lens being decreased toward a circumferential part. Optical efficiency may be improved even when a light-emitting surface of the light source is relatively large and the light source cannot be regarded as a point light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Konuma
  • Patent number: 7431482
    Abstract: A modular downlight assembly having a channel shaped back housing for mounting in a ceiling cavity and formed with a series of identical apertures receiving, respectively, when mounted in the cavity, selected similar individual downlight modules. Each module has a mounting plate with a power supply mounted on an upper back face received, concealed from view, in an aperture and a lamp housing pivotally suspended from a turnable on a lower face by a scissor linkage for extension and retraction out of and into the housing channel. A protractor for indicating rotational direction is marked on the lower face of the mounting plate. Meshed gear teeth are provided on endmost links of the two linkages of each scissor link, synchronizing their movement. Selected links have movement limiting flanges extending into paths of movement of adjacent links and of the lamp housing limiting extension, pivotal movement and rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: W.A.C. Lighting Co.
    Inventors: David Morgan, Dun Ping Hu
  • Patent number: 7427143
    Abstract: A vehicle display having a housing, a pointer that is rotatably coupled to the housing, a first appliqué that is coupled to the housing, a second appliqué coupled to the housing, a first graphics set coupled to a surface of the first appliqué and a second graphics set coupled to a surface of the second appliqué. The second is spaced apart rearwardly from the first appliqué. The first and second graphics sets cooperate to at least partially form a display design that is adapted to be viewed from a front side of the vehicle display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary A Coon
  • Patent number: 7427155
    Abstract: A liquid crystal module provides for concave shaped recesses formed in an elastic member along the circumference of a linear light source that is arranged on the side of a light guide, and lamp holders attached to both ends of the linear light source, while ring-shaped hard members are engaged with the recesses. Thus, the hard members serve as a grip against an impact applied to the linear light source, and the linear light source is prevented from being damaged. Accordingly, a sidelight-type liquid crystal module with a liquid crystal panel is thereby obtained, in which the damage to the linear light source (when an impact, or the like, is applied to the liquid crystal panel) is prevented by simple means without affecting the quality of light that is emitted toward the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiji Nakagawa, Seiji Morimoto, Yuki Muraoka