Patents Examined by James Cranson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8449166
    Abstract: An image source unit that can efficiently provide image light emitted from an image source to an observer is disclosed. The image source unit includes an image source; and an optical sheet that disposed closer to an observer side than the image source. The optical sheet includes an optical functional layer that includes a light-transmitting portion having a trapezoidal cross section; and the low refractive-index portion having a wedge shape cross section. An oblique side of the wedge shape cross section of the low refractive-index portion form an angle of ?b with respect to a normal line of the sheet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 8434885
    Abstract: A reflecting sheet of the invention is comprised of at least two, a surface layer portion and an inner layer portion, or more layers, and is characterized in that the surface layer portion contains at least a thermoplastic resin (C), the inner layer portion contains a thermoplastic resin (A), and at least one kind of thermoplastic resin (B) incompatible with the thermoplastic resin (A), reflected light intensity in a vertical direction has anisotropy by an incident direction when light is incident at an incident angle of 60 degrees with respect to the vertical direction of a plane of the reflecting sheet in the entire reflecting sheet including the surface layer portion and the inner layer portion, and that a ratio L1/L2, which is a ratio of reflected light intensity L1 in the vertical direction in an incident direction A1 where the reflected light intensity in the vertical direction is the highest to reflected light intensity L2 in the vertical direction in an incident direction A2 orthogonal to the incident
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Hamasaki, Kenji Takasa, Yuuichi Arito, Yusuke Shigemori, Taku Suetomi
  • Patent number: 8434923
    Abstract: An LED backlight module includes at least one LED and a light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a light incident surface, a light emitting surface connected to the light incident surface, and a bottom surface parallel to the light emitting surface. The at least one LED is placed on the light incident surface and spaced at regular intervals. The light from the at least one LED enters the light guide plate from the light incident surface and is reflected to the light emitting surface by the bottom surface. The light guide plate defines a plurality of concave dots on the bottom surface. The bottom surface is divided into a plurality of discontinuous dot zones. In the dot zone closest to the incident surface, proximity of the dot to the LED decreases the depth and the distribution density of the dots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 8430517
    Abstract: Lighting system for a data display device (56), said lighting system including a light guide (30) into which the light produced by a light source (38) is injected, said lighting system being characterized in that the light guide (30) includes a plane light injection and collimation zone (32) in the form of a parabola, said parabola including two branches (48a, 48b) connected to each other via an apex (40), the light source (38) being arranged opposite the apex (40), the branches (48a, 48b) of the parabola which delimit the contour of the plane injection and collimation zone (32) being extended by a plane extraction zone (36) for the light propagating inside the guide (30), said extraction zone (36) having a rectangular section and being provided with light extractors (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Pierpasquale Tortora
  • Patent number: 8419229
    Abstract: A lighting unit is provided. The lighting unit includes a light source and an optical element. The light source provides a major light beam and a minor light beam. The optical element includes a first light entering surface, a second light entering surface, a light distributing surface, a light emitting surface and a normal line, wherein the normal line is perpendicular to the light emitting surface, and the second light entering surface is a scattering surface, and the major light beam enters the optical element through the first light entering surface, and is emitted from the light emitting surface, and the minor light beam enters the optical element through the second light entering surface, is reflected by the light distributing surface, and is emitted from the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Sheng Dong
  • Patent number: 8419220
    Abstract: The lamp device may include: a plurality of light sources; a substrate including one side thereof on which a plurality of the light sources are disposed; a plurality of light guiders including both first ends coupled optically to a plurality of the light sources and second ends through which light is emitted; a frame including the second ends disposed thereon and controlling the direction of the light emitted from the second ends; and a body which is disposed on the substrate, a plurality of the light guiders and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-il Kong
  • Patent number: 8419248
    Abstract: A vehicle light is provided which can prevent the accumulation of assembly errors during the assembling of separate optical components. The vehicle light can include a first heat sink having a first heat sink body and a first heat radiation fin, and a first optical system configured to form a part of a predetermined light distribution pattern. The first optical system can include a first LED light source, a first reflector configured to reflect light emitted from the first LED light source, and a projection lens configured to allow light reflected from the first reflector to pass therethrough. The first LED light source, the first reflector, and the projection lens can be secured to an upper surface of the first heat sink body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Toyoyama, Yoshiaki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8414157
    Abstract: A portable lighting system including a housing having an elongated slot formed in a surface of the housing. The slot being sized to receive a rod therein via an opening in the slot. The system further including a retention member movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the closed position provides at least a portion of the retention member blocking at least a portion of the upper opening of the slot and the opened position includes the retention member not blocking the upper opening of the slot. The system also having a light source including a plurality of lights oriented in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Light Muse, LLC
    Inventor: Russell E. Rains
  • Patent number: 8414150
    Abstract: An illumination system for creating a field of light with which the density, photometric angular distribution, of the projected light can be changed, including a series of light modules including at least one LED, a structural frame of structural rails having electrically insulating elements, within which electrical conductors pass. The structural rails are at least partially composed of a heat conductive material. There is a circuit board which has a heat conductive substrate having slots disposed about the circuit board, and including at least two electrical contact surfaces located along the slots on the circuit board. The LED is mounted to the circuit board which includes at least two electrical contact surfaces located along the slots. There are electrically conductive screws for electrically connecting the LED on the circuit board to the electrical conductors and constructed and arranged to simultaneously provide a thermal transfer from the heat conductive substrate to the structural rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Jerome H. Simon
  • Patent number: 8408772
    Abstract: A device comprising a plurality of LEDs arranged in a coplanar array, the coplanar array comprising an LED at the center and LEDs positioned radially symmetrically around the LED at the center, and wherein the central axes of the LEDs are arranged to be parallel to each other; a one-piece lens array collimating light from the LEDs, the lens array comprising a plurality of coplanar lens tiles, the coplanar lens tiles comprising a lens tile at the center and lens tiles positioned radially symmetrically around the lens tile at the center, and wherein the central axis of each of the lens tiles is aligned with the central axis of a corresponding LED; and a focusing lens converging the collimated light from the lens array into a single image in a focal plane, wherein the central axis of the focusing lens is aligned with the central axis of the lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Excelitas Technologies LED Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Li
  • Patent number: 8398282
    Abstract: A vehicle front lighting assembly, or headlight assembly, that includes one or more variable tint electrowetting elements overlying a portion of the assembly lens surface. The variable tint electrowetting element is configured to operate to a transparent state whereby the hue of light passing therethrough is not changed, and a tinted state where the hue of light passing therethrough is changed. Alternatively, the variable tint electrowetting element is configured to operate to the tinted state and an opaque state where light is blocked from passing through the electrowetting element. The assembly may use light emitting diodes (LED) as an alternative to more conventional light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick F. Kuhlman, Dwadasi H. R. Sarma, Nasser Lukmani
  • Patent number: 8398262
    Abstract: The present invention provides various embodiments for apparatuses and methods of manufacturing low profile housings for electronic and/or optoelectronic devices. Some embodiments provide low profile housings with a hollow casing comprising a first surface, second surface, and at least one lateral side surface. The housing is substantially light-diffusive. At least one cap is provided for sealing an end of the casing, with the at least one cap being sized to account for variations in the casing. At least one light emitting device, such as an LED, may be mounted within the casing. A mounting means may be included for mounting the housing. In another embodiment, a low profile housing with a first casing and second casing surrounding a majority of the first casing may be provided. At least one light emitting device, such as a double-sided printed circuit board with a plurality of LEDs, may be provided in the first casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Sloan Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Sloan, Bruce Quaal
  • Patent number: 8393776
    Abstract: A backlight module is provided in the present invention. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light source plate and a plurality of side-view lighting elements. The light guide plate comprises a light guide body being an integrally-formed single plate body and comprising a plurality of elongated grooves and a plurality of penetrated grooves. The penetrated grooves and the elongated grooves are collectively arranged on a surface of the light guide plate to separate the light guide plate into a plurality of light emitting regions. The side-view lighting elements arranged on the light source plate are attached to a side of the light guide body and respectively disposed for the penetrated grooves to illuminate corresponding light emitting regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Global Lighting Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Huang-Chun Liu, Chung-Lin Tsai, Sheng-Ju Chung
  • Patent number: 8393764
    Abstract: A multilayer surrounding plate type heat dissipating structure comprises: a heat dissipating base module; a heat conducting insert, with an end coupled to the heat dissipating base module, and another end having a distal head portion; at least one light emitting element, installed at the distal head portion of the heat conducting insert; and a multilayer surrounding plate, installed to a ceiling, and having a through hole formed thereon, for passing the heat conducting insert, such that a heat source produced by the light emitting element can be dissipated through the multilayer surrounding plate or an airflow passage between multilayer surrounding plate to achieve an excellent heat dissipating effect, assure the functions of the light emitting element, and extend their lifespan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ACPA Energy Conversion Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pei-Chih Yao
  • Patent number: 8393774
    Abstract: It is provided a luminaire kit of parts (100) for assembling a luminaire. The luminaire kit of parts (100) comprises light sources (107a-b) and light out-coupling devices (105a-b), The luminaire kit of parts (100) further comprises a light guiding element (101), the light guiding element (101) being configured to receive at least a subset of the light sources (107a-b) and at least a subset of the light out-coupling devices (105a-b) into a first type of 5 openings (103a-c) and a second type of openings (104a-b) respectively. It is also provided a method for assembling a luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael Krijn, Oscar Hendrikus Willemsen, Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie Vissenberg, Ramon Pascal Van Gorkom
  • Patent number: 8388211
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel and a light guide unit. The light guide unit includes a body portion and a support portion. The body portion includes a light outputting surface near the display panel, and the support portion is placed on the edge of the light outputting surface to support the display panel. The support portion has an inclined surface, and at least one groove is formed between the inclined surface and the display panel for accommodating glue that combines the display panel and the light guide unit. In addition to being disposed in the groove, glue may be further disposed in a gap between the display panel, a back bezel, and the light guide unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chih Wei Chen, Hsu Sheng Hsu, Jia Lang Hsu
  • Patent number: 8388173
    Abstract: The present invention provides various embodiments for apparatuses and methods of manufacturing low profile housings for electronic and/or optoelectronic devices. Some embodiments provide low profile housings with a hollow casing comprising a first surface, second surface, and at least one lateral side surface. The housing is substantially light-diffusive. At least one cap is provided for sealing an end of the casing, with the at least one cap being sized to account for variations in the casing. At least one light emitting device, such as an LED, may be mounted within the casing. A mounting means may be included for mounting the housing to a mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Sloan Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Sloan, Bruce Quaal
  • Patent number: 8388160
    Abstract: Provided is a backlight device which can suppress a damage of a display panel or a diffusion sheet while suppressing the size of the device. The backlight device (20) includes: a diffusion sheet (25); and a support member (31) having a support plane (31a) for supporting the diffusion sheet and arranged below the diffusion sheet. The diffusion sheet has a center of gravity (G1) set at the arrow C direction, i.e., at the side opposite to a liquid crystal display panel (12) as compared to a contact position (tip end (P1)) between the lower surface (25d) of the diffusion sheet and the support plane of the support member when the diffusion sheet is not warped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Kasai
  • Patent number: 8376603
    Abstract: An input device and display apparatus with multi-light segments has been disclosed. The input device may comprise a rigid light guide layer having alignment structures that define the rigid light guide layer into multiple light segments, a plurality of first layer flexible light guide films and a plurality of second layer flexible light guide films. The alignment structures may be formed together when making the rigid light guide layer in an injection molding process. By coupling multiple light sources into each of the light guides, the display may be configured to display multiple color and multiple symbols, independently. In another embodiment, the light guide may be utilized in a display apparatus without a LCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Muh Fong Chung, Choon Guan Ko, Sian Tatt Lee, Fook Chuin Ng
  • Patent number: 8376566
    Abstract: In an object verifier having a housing and an object holder, an object may be placed in the object holder for observation by an operator. The object is illuminated using a collimated beam of white light that is generated by a light generator. The collimated beam of white light is passed through a beam splitter with the two portions of the collimated beam of white light presented to the object at a 90 degree angle one from the other. The interior of the housing includes a reflective surface for maximal illumination of the object. The observer may view the illuminated object through a viewing window and/or through a magnification window. The magnification window provides for the viewing of the object in greater detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventors: Joel N. Bock, Ronald R. Erickson, Eliezer D. Sandler