Patents Examined by David R Crowe
  • Patent number: 7419290
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp including a projector-type lamp unit and a reflection-type lamp unit. The projector-type lamp unit includes a first light source, a first reflector, and a projection lens disposed in a forward direction of the first light source. The reflection-type lamp unit includes a second light source, and a second reflector. The reflection-type lamp unit is disposed beneath the projector-type lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuaki Inaba
  • Patent number: 7419284
    Abstract: A passing lamp assembly for a motorcycle. A mount arm extends between opposite end portions and is mounted below the headlight of a motorcycle. A spherical element having a through-hole passing therethrough is formed at the mount arm end portions. Passing lamps are pivotally mounted above the spherical elements by stems attached to the lamps and passing through the spherical elements. Spherical washers are mounted around the stem between the passing lamp and the spherical element, and between the underside of the spherical element and a fastener. First and second turn signals are mounted below the spherical elements by turn signal mounts and are not pivotally movable relative to the mount arm. The turn signal mounts conceal mounting hardware for the passing lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Thiers, Mark Blankers
  • Patent number: 7416325
    Abstract: A frame (34) for fixing an optical sheet (31) thereon includes a frame body (35) and at least a fastener (36). The frame body includes a plurality of contiguous sidewalls (352, 353, 354, and 355) and at least one latching portion (358) defined on the at least one of sidewalls. The fastener is mounted into the latching portion correspondingly such that the optical sheet is fixed on the top portions of sidewalls of the frame body. A backlight module using the frame is also provided, which has a lightweight, and also can be assembled easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7410282
    Abstract: A bifunctional LED headlamp for a vehicle is disclosed, wherein at least one of a shield, a lens, a reflector, and an LED are movable to facilitate use of the headlamp in both a low beam mode and a high beam mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris L. Eichelberger, John Li
  • Patent number: 7407318
    Abstract: A spacer includes a base, at least a supporting column, and at least a clamp. The base includes at least a bridge-shaped portion and at least a flat portion. The bridge-shaped portion includes a bridge top surface, and two curving sidewalls respectively extend from two ends of the bridge top surface and connect with the flat portion. The supporting column is disposed on the bridge top surface of the base. The clamp is disposed on the flat portion of the base. A backlight module using the same spacers is also provided. The backlight module has a reflective plate having a plurality of projections parallel to linear light sources. The spacers are coupled to the projections and support a diffusing plate. Curving sidewalls of the spacers and the adjacent curving surface of the projections facing the corresponding light sources would give the present spacer and backlight module have good optical uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7401959
    Abstract: A turn signal lamp for a vehicle is provided having an improved appearance. In a front blinker including a lamp housing, an LED provided on the lamp housing, a reflector for reflecting light from the LED, and a lens fitted into an opening of the lamp housing, a reflector has a concave curved surface which functions as a reflecting surface and the LED is located in an area invisible from a direction in which light is reflected by the curved surface so that the LED is invisible through the lens from outside the front blinker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kogo, Hayato Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7399106
    Abstract: A light assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a lens holder that supports an internal lens. The light assembly includes a light source powered by the vehicle. The internal lens includes a first surface having a plurality of protrusions. The protrusion scatter and diffuse heat emitted from the light source away from an outwardly positioned reflex lens and an outer lens. The protrusions also reflect light toward a reflector to increase the overall brightness observed coming from the light assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Anthony Reading
  • Patent number: 7396145
    Abstract: A backlight module includes at least a light source generator, a housing, at least a thermal detector, and an inverter. The thermal detector is disposed in the housing for measuring the temperature within the housing when the light source generator is operating, and the inverter is electrically connected to the thermal detector and the light source generator for adjusting the electrical current of the light source generator according to the temperature measured by the thermal detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: Innocom Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventors: Mao-Jung Wang, Chuan-Pei Yu
  • Patent number: 7380957
    Abstract: A joiner assembly for joining and supporting a first linear light fixture with a second linear light fixture. The joiner assembly includes a joiner bracket including first control surface connected to a second control surface and a draw fastener hole therebetween. The first control surface is configured for controlling a position of the first linear light fixture in a prestressed condition, and the second control surface is configured for controlling a position of the second linear light fixture in a prestressed condition. A draw fastener is connected to the draw fastener hole. A draw fastener constraint is connected to the draw fastener and configured for connection to at least one of the first linear light fixture and the second linear light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Pent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Geza T. Lanczy
  • Patent number: 7374318
    Abstract: Lighted tubing includes an elongate wall and a light source. The elongate wall defines an interior channel. A conductor may be positioned adjacent to and extending from the light source to conduct light produced by the light source along the wall. A method of securing medical tubing includes the steps of providing medical tubing, providing a light source, attaching the light source to an elongate wall of the medical tubing, and the light source indicating the location of the wall in a dark environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventors: Nancy Brooks, James J. Brooks
  • Patent number: 7367685
    Abstract: A lighted cabinet assembly includes a pair of spaced apart sidewalls and a top wall interconnecting the sidewalls. The sidewalls define an interior space therebetween and at least one shelf is supported between the sidewalls. The cabinet assembly further includes a base for supporting the cabinet assembly on a support surface. The base has an upper surface and a lower surface for facing the support surface. The sidewalls extend from the upper surface and are mounted to the base. In addition, each sidewall includes an elongate recess, which extends from the base up at least a portion of the sidewalls. At least one light strip is positioned in each of the recesses for illuminating at least a portion of the interior space of the cabinet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Nexlite
    Inventor: Gregory R Moll
  • Patent number: 7367687
    Abstract: An illumination system is for providing a parallel illumination light beam. The illumination system includes two lamps, and each lamp includes a first lampshade, a burner and a reflector. The lampshade has a light outputting section. A first reflector is connected with the first lampshade, and a portion of the light outputting section is covered by the first reflector. A diverging light is provided by the burner. The diverging light is transformed into a parallel light beam by the lampshade and the first reflector, and the parallel light beam is outputted from a portion of the light outputting section without covering. The illumination system further includes at least one second reflector disposed between the lamps, on the optical path of at least one portion of the parallel light beam. The parallel light beams from the lamps are thereby combined into a parallel illumination beam by the second reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Chuan-Te Cheng
  • Patent number: 7364344
    Abstract: An exemplary lamp housing includes a base (21), two frame members (23), and two frame holding members (24). The base includes an upper surface for disposing one lamp (20) thereon. The frame members are respectively attached to two opposite ends of the base so as to hold the lamp. Each of the frame members includes an outer side surface (232) and a lower outer surface (233). The frame holding members are each fixed on a corresponding one of the frame members so as to fix the frame members with the lamp. Each frame member includes a plurality of first protruding rims (2323) and second protruding rims (2324) extending from the outer side surface and down the lower outer surface. Each of the first protruding rims is parallel to one of the second protruding rims so as to define a receiving groove (2321) for mounting lamp wires connecting to the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Patent number: 7360928
    Abstract: A tilting device is disclosed which tilts the light reflected from a Digital Micro-mirror device by a certain angle and projects it to a screen. The tilting device, comprising a first reflector surface, a second reflector surface inclined at a predetermined angle with regard to the first reflector surface, a holder attached to the bottom of the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, and a driving part that provides rotational force to the holder, wherein the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface are rotated by the driving part to sequentially reflect light emitted from a Digital Micro-mirror device, not only provides a smooth and natural display with invisible grids but also allows more stable and more accurate tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang-Ho Moon, Dong-Won Choi, Jae-Kyung Kim, Chil-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 7350955
    Abstract: A back light source module of a liquid crystal device is provided. The back light source module includes a backplate, a light source fixture disposed on the backplate. The back light source module also includes a first light source having a first normal line and disposing on the light source fixture, a second light source having a second normal line and disposing on the light source fixture, and a third light source having a third normal line and disposing on the light source fixture. Among them, a first angle is formed between the second normal line and the first normal line, a second angle is formed between the third normal line and the first normal line, and both the first angle and the second angle are less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Li Chang, Hung-Chen Kao
  • Patent number: 7347575
    Abstract: A gauge having a housing, a light source disposed in the housing, a bezel, a display and a pointer. The display is coupled to the housing and includes a display surface that is visible through an opening in the bezel. The display is spaced rearwardly of the bezel to define a light transmitting aperture. The pointer is movably mounted to the housing and includes a pointer end that is disposed on a side of the bezel opposite the light transmitting aperture. A first portion of the light produced by the light source can be employed to back-illuminate the display surface, while a second portion of the light produced by the light source can be collected by the pointer and employed to illuminate the pointer end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching Fong, Sanjiv Venkatram, Zinoviy Kelman, Joseph Pasek, Brian P Demhlow
  • Patent number: 7347592
    Abstract: A reflector for use in a projection system comprises an anodized metal substrate having a metal oxide layer. The metal oxide layer has a plurality of pores. A light absorbing pigment is deposited into each of the pores such that the light absorbing pigment and the metal oxide layer form a light absorbing layer on the metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter Mardilovich, Kurt Ulmer
  • Patent number: 7318658
    Abstract: A high power LED color bulb with infrared remote function has a reflector having front and rear openings and a light guide hole, a light guide bar received inside light guide hole, an LED module with LED chips and a bulb cover with a controlling circuit board. The LED module is mounted on a rear end of the reflector with the LED chips inside the reflector. The controlling circuit board is inside the bulb cover, is connected electronically to the LED module and has an infrared sensor aligned with the light guide bar of the reflector. When an infrared signal comes through the front opening of the reflector, the infrared signal passes through the light guide bar and is received by the infrared sensor. Since the infrared sensor is behind the reflector and the LED chips, the infrared sensor avoids overheating from heat produced by the LED chips and does not have to be replaced simultaneously with the color bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignees: Anteya Technology Corporation, Color Stars, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu Cheng Wang, Wei Rur Chen, Chin Feng Su, Ting Feng Wu
  • Patent number: 7309152
    Abstract: A light source structure of a backlight module comprises: a bar-shaped light source; and a group of complementary color light emitting diodes mounted at both ends of the bar-shaped light source. The bar-shaped light source is composed of several light emitting diodes having complementary light colors. The luminous intensity of outermost light emitting diodes of the bar-shaped light source is 30 to 70% of average luminous intensity of the other equal color light emitting diodes. The complementary color light emitting diodes have light colors complementary to that of the outermost light emitting diodes of the bar-shaped light source. The luminous intensity of the complementary color light emitting diodes is 10 to 50% of average luminous intensity of the other equal color light emitting diodes of the bar-shaped light source. Consequently, the non-uniform mixing of lights on edges of the backlight module and the producing of bright point can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Unity Opto Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tai-Ho Huang
  • Patent number: 7287894
    Abstract: A light guide plate (20) includes a light incident surface (21) having a meso-nano pore structure (210) formed thereat, a bottom surface (22) adjacent to the incident surface. The meso-nano pore structure includes a plurality of meso-nano pores (211) which are less than 50 nm in size, a plurality of first meso-nano particles (212) disposed in the meso-nano pores, and a plurality of second meso-nano particles (213) disposed generally between the meso-nano pores. The meso-nano pores are considerably less than a wavelength (400˜700 nm) of visible light in size, so that a nano-coupling effect occurs between photons of the lightbeams. Therefore, light loss caused by scattering is reduced, and a rate of utilization of light is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen